Fire scare at DMCH burn unit
10 patients injured
A fire scare led to the evacuation of over 200 patients of burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) yesterday evening.
Ten patients were injured in their attempt to come out of the DMCH burn unit after a smoke and flames were seen in the unit, sparking off the fears.
The patients took shelter in a nearby field inside the DMCH compound and stayed there for five to six minutes until they learnt that the fire had been put out. The rest of the 335 patients stayed inside the hospital as they could not move and did not get help from others.
Patients on the 3rd floor of the six-storey building first noticed the fire at the DMCH burn unit at 5:30pm.
"Soon after noticing the smoke and fire, my wife wasted no time in requesting an unknown man to help her take me out of the hospital," said Abdul Karim, 60, a patient on the 3rd floor of the burn unit.
"Bleeding had started from the burnt parts of my legs and waist as soon as we went out of the hospital," said Karim.
Experts feared that the wounds of the patients who had been evacuated would worsen soon as they were pulled out of the hospital in desperation.
Burn Specialist Dr Samanta Lal Sen said the patients would suffer in the long run as their burnt wounds have been affected once again during the rush.
A Fire Brigade and Civil Defence official said five units had been sent to extinguish the fire but the hospital staff had doused the flame instantly.
The official suspected that the fire broke out from the wastage piled on the rooftop of an overpass connecting the burn unit with the emergency building.
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