Minor Fire at KGH Cardiology Block; 43 Patients Shifted Safely

A minor fire broke out in the Cardiology Block of King George Hospital on Saturday morning, prompting a swift evacuation of patients and staff. No injuries were reported, thanks to the quick response from hospital authorities and fire personnel.

The mishap took place around 9.30 a.m., when staff noticed smoke coming from the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust office located on the premises of the Cardiology Block. The hospital team immediately switched off the power supply to prevent the fire from spreading and alerted the Fire Department.

In a coordinated effort, hospital staff shifted 43 patients from the cardiology ward to the gynaecology, family planning and other blocks. Most of the patients were undergoing treatment and required support equipment, making the evacuation more challenging. Staff members later said the response was smooth because of regular emergency drills conducted at the hospital.

Firefighters reached the hospital within five minutes and began operations. The fire was contained in a short time, limiting damage to the trust office. A short circuit is suspected to have triggered the incident.

KGH Superintendent I. Vani monitored the situation on the ground and later estimated the property loss at around Rs 2 lakh. She said the hospital would review the electrical systems in older blocks to prevent similar incidents.

Visakhapatnam South MLA Ch. Vamsikrishna Srinivas visited the site soon after the fire was put out. He interacted with doctors and staff, and asked the administration to strengthen safety measures, especially in high-dependency wards. He also appreciated the quick evacuation that ensured patient safety.