Bhubaneswar: A fire broke out at the Nidan Kendra building of MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur in Ganjam district, late on Sunday night. No major casualty, however, was reported.
According to reports, the blaze, which broke out at around 1:30 am in the biochemistry laboratory on the ground floor, quickly spread to the main examination hall.
The fire resulted in significant damage to equipment and chemical substances. A few staff members who were present in the area suffered from suffocation due to gas leakage from the air conditioner. Fortunately, no major casualties were reported, and the affected staff members are said to be stable.
A short circuit in the laboratory is believed to have triggered the fire. Firefighters responded promptly and worked tirelessly for over two hours to bring the flames under control. While the exact cause of the short circuit remains unknown, sources suggest that a lapse in the temperature monitoring system may have contributed to the blaze.
The hospital authorities are likely to assess the damage caused by the outbreak of fire, said sources.