Woman, child die in blaze at operation theatre in Lucknow hospital
Lucknow, Dec 18: Two patients, including a child and a woman, died after a fire broke out in an operation theatre of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here on Monday, police said.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also heads the health portfolio, said a detailed probe would be conducted into the incident and strict action would be taken against the offenders.
The blaze was reported in one of the operation theatres at the state-run hospital around 12.40 pm. A spark in a monitor led to the fire, which first spread to the workstation and then to the entire operation theatre, a statement issued by SGPGIMS said.
All the patients in the operation wing were rushed to the post-operative ICU. The firefighting system was immediately activated and the fire was brought under control, the hospital added.
A female patient who was undergoing endosurgery in the operation theatre could not be saved, the statement said.
Besides, a child, about one-month-old, who was undergoing heart surgery at the time of the incident was brought out to the ICU because of smoke and resuscitated but he could not be saved, it added.
A senior official of SGPGIMS said the woman died as she inhaled smoke and suffered burn injuries.
The child was taken out but died due to his weak heart condition, the official added.
Deputy Inspector General (Fire) Jugal Kishore Tiwari said the information about the fire was received at 12.58 pm and fire tenders arrived at the hospital within five minutes and doused the blaze, however most of the section of the floor was already burnt.
Visitors at the hospital said the operation procedure for three patients was underway when the fire broke out, Tiwari said.
It appears that the incident occurred due to a short circuit, he added.
Expressing grief over the incident, Pathak said, "The incident that happened at PGI is very unfortunate. A high-level investigation has been ordered. What caused the fire and how it broke out, a complete point-wise investigation will be conducted," Pathak said.
"Principal Secretary Parthasarathy Sen Sharma has been asked to immediately go to the spot and strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the incident," he added.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
