KARACHI, Aug 10: The neurosurgery and the eye departments/wards of the Civil Hospital Karachi have been closed for an indefinite period after a fire broke out on Friday afternoon that was said to be caused by a short circuit.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that about 15 patients were admitted to the two departments located on the premises of the Sindh Government Services Hospital, who were safely evacuated and shifted to other wards immediately.

All staff concerned also remained unhurt, but the two departments were badly affected in the incident.

The spokesperson said that the fire originated in the main electric room of the Services Hospital.

The spokesperson added that after the fire the Civil Hospital was not in the position to deal with patients seeking neurosurgical and ophthalmologic interventions until restoration of the affected departments.

According to an eyewitness, the smoke filled the two departments and consequentially about 15 patients admitted there had to be moved to safety.

The operating theatres had also been affected in the fire and could not be used, the witness said.

A majority of patients who had to be moved on an emergency basis belonged to the neurosurgery department.

Following the news of the incident, officers and staffs from other departments rushed to the site and the KESC and the fire brigade teams were also called in to control the fire.

The patients admitted to the ophthalmology department left for their houses and about a dozen patients admitted to the neurosurgery department were shifted to the medical and the surgical intensive care units and two medical wards of the Civil Hospital.

Replying to a question about the nature of the fire and cost of damages, the CHK spokesperson said that a team of engineers and other officials would undertake a survey in this regard soon.

A senior official of the CHK told Dawn that the Civil Hospital in the meantime had written letters to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to provide medical facilities to the patients referred by it till the repair of the two affected wards.

A spokesperson for the provincial health department said that Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed had ordered an inquiry into the fire incident and asked special health secretary Dr Suresh Kumar to launch a probe and furnish a report within two days.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.