MULTAN: A fire broke out in the basement of the Nishtar Hospital's emergency ward on Monday.

The fire erupted in the storeroom and forced the administration to shift the patients from emergency ward sending clouds of thick smoke into the air as it burnt old beds and mattresses.

Workers and patients were evacuated from the ward and firefighters were called. About 150 patients were under treatment there when the incident occurred.

According to hospital sources, the fire did not burn anybody, however, smoke affected six patients and emergency services remained suspended for two and half hours.

They said the hospital fortunately escaped a major mishap as oxygen cylinders were placed at a very short distance from the fire. They said the hospital lacked firefighting internal system while there was no emergency exit in the building.

District Coordination Officer Zahid Saleem Gondal, Nishtar Hospital Principal Dr Sami Akhtar, Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Ashiq Malik, Chairman Board of Directors Nisthar Hospital Jalaluddin Rumi and City Police Officer Ch Sultan reached the emergency ward as soon as the news reached them.

MS Dr Malik told the media that the medicines stored nearby remained safe.

Principal Dr Akhtar said an investigation committee to probe the incident would be constituted and Prof Dr Inayatullah, Prof Dr Salman Waris, Dr Zaffar Iqbal Alvi and some technical staff would be the part of it.

The cause of the incident could not be ascertained, however, Rescue 1122 staff said the fire could be the result of a short circuit.