Smoke reported again from emergency department of Kozhikode Medical College; patients evacuated

KOZHIKODE: Panic struck Kozhikode Medical College Hospital once again as smoke was detected on the sixth floor of the emergency block. This time, the smoke originated from the sixth floor of the hospital building. The incident prompted an immediate evacuation of patients and staff from the area. The incident occurred even as inspections by the Fire Force and Electrical Inspectorate were ongoing following a similar smoke incident that took place the other day. Measures are currently underway to bring the situation under control. Two fire force units have arrived at the scene. According to hospital authorities, the smoke is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.

Last Friday, smoke had been detected in the emergency department of the same hospital, leading to allegations that five patients had died as a result. The smoke reportedly originated from the UPS room located within the building that houses the emergency department. Kozhikode District Collector had earlier stated that a preliminary investigation pointed to a short circuit in the UPS room as the likely cause.

Meanwhile, the preliminary post-mortem report released recently clarified that the deaths were not due to smoke inhalation. Three of the patients died of natural causes unrelated to the smoke. One patient was found to have died due to toxic substances entering the body. Family members, however, alleged that the patient died after inhaling smoke while being shifted to another ward.

The deceased who reportedly died due to toxic exposure was Naseera (44), a native of Meppadi, Wayanad. The three others — Meppayur native Gangadharan (72), West Hill native Gopalan (67) and Vadakara native Surendran (59) — were all admitted with severe pre-existing health conditions and are reported to have died natural deaths.

Meanwhile, Gangya, a native of West Bengal who attempted suicide, had died before reaching the hospital and before the UPS incident occurred. Her post-mortem has not yet been conducted. Kozhikode Medical College Police have registered a case in connection with the incident.