Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI): A minor fire broke out in the seminar room of the burns ward of the state-run Victoria Hospital in the wee hours of Tuesday, following which 26 patients were shifted to another ward, officials said.

No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, they said.

According to hospital officials, the fire that broke out at 3 am is suspected to have occurred due to a short circuit of a switch board in the seminar room adjacent to the ward on the first floor of the building.

A resident doctor on duty noticed the fire and immediately alerted the authorities. The fire department came and extinguished the blaze.

At the time of the incident, there were 26 patients, including 14 men, five women and seven children in the burns ward. Among them, five patients were in ICU, Ramesh Krishna K, Dean and Director of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute said in a statement.

"In view of the smoke and as a precautionary measure, we have shifted all the 26 burns patients from this ward to H Block of Victoria Hospital. All the patients, attenders, doctors and hospital staff are safe and the situation is under control, he said.

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Udupi: The State will submit a Rs 850 crore proposal to the Union government for the overall development of the Malpe fishing harbour, Karnataka Minister Mankal S. Vaidya announced while laying the foundation stone for a Rs 12.52 crore modernisation project of the harbour under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

“If the Union government does not consider the proposal, the State government will finance the proposed project,” The Hindu quoted Vaidya, state's Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport, as saying.

Vaidya noted that Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules continue to hinder coastal development in Karnataka, preventing the implementation of projects worth Rs 2,034 crore. He stressed the need for CRZ norms in the state to be aligned with those in other states, where such regulations do not pose a barrier to coastal infrastructure and development initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said the PMMSY has revitalised the fisheries sector, enabling the implementation of several projects that benefit fishing communities nationwide. He urged the state government to prioritise dredging of estuaries and upgrading fisheries jetties to ensure year-round navigability and the safety of fishing vessels.

The Rs 12.52 crore modernisation project will focus on enhancing sanitation and water supply at the harbour, upgrading fish handling capacity, and strengthening security at the port, The Hindu quoted fisheries and ports officials as saying.

A reliable water supply and improved handling facilities are expected to speed up auctions and vessel turnarounds, while upgraded wastewater systems will help tackle long-standing issues of odour and contamination at the harbour.