A fire that broke out at the 17-storey Khulna City Medical College Hospital at the city’s Moylapota intersection on Thursday night has been brought under control. No casualties have been reported in the incident so far.
The blaze started at approximately 9:35pm on the ground floor of the hospital building. Upon receiving the news, 12 units of the Fire Service rushed to the scene to battle the flames.
Following nearly two hours of efforts, firefighters managed to bring the fire under control at around 11:45pm. Operations to completely extinguish the fire and monitor the situation continued late into the night.
The incident triggered widespread panic among patients and their relatives across various floors. As smoke spread through different sections of the building, many patients were quickly evacuated for their safety. Fire Service personnel led the rescue operations.
Hospital staff reported that patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and cabins on the upper floors, including the ninth and tenth storeys, remained safe. However, the thick smoke caused significant anxiety and distress throughout the hospital.
According to eyewitnesses, smoke was first seen coming from the direction of the generator room on the ground floor. Within a short time, the smoke permeated various parts of the building, causing patients, relatives, and staff to scramble for safety.
As news of the fire spread, a large crowd gathered in the hospital area. In addition to the Fire Service, members of the Police, the Navy, and various voluntary organisations assisted in the rescue and security operations.
Law enforcement maintained a strong presence to ensure security in and around the facility.
Arif Ul Islam, senior station officer of Khulna Fire Service, said: “The fire was brought under control at around 11:45pm. However, work is still ongoing to completely extinguish it. No casualties have been reported as of yet.”
The exact cause of the fire and the extent of the damage have not been immediately determined. The Fire Service is currently working to identify the source of the blaze and assess the losses.
Meanwhile, hospital authorities and the Fire Service continued the process of providing medical care and managing patient transfers across the different floors.
