MULTAN: Most of the Ahmadpur East fire victims airlifted to the Nishtar Hospital here on Sunday had maximum burn injuries.

“There are 54 injured who are admitted to hospital and condition of all is critical,” says Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha, Vice Chancellor of the Nishtar Medical University. He told media people that 59 patients were shifted to the Nishtar Hospital out of which four died on the way while one breathed his last in the hospital.

He said that the patients who were shifted to Nishtar Hospital were with maximum burn injuries.

To make room for tanker fire victims, patients already admitted to the Nishtar burns unit were shifted to other wards of the hospital. An official source said although the unit has 67 beds, hardly 12 are functional. The unit also lacks equipment, trained staff and medicine.

Former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi had inaugurated the burns unit some 14 years ago and at that time its estimated cost was Rs670 million. However it could not become fully functional due to non-provision of funds by the Shahbaz Sharif government. “So far 40 beds have been installed but only 12 are functional.”

On the request of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the Italian government had also provided some funds, but the unit was yet to be completed.

‘People of seven villages missing after fire’

The Nishtar burns unit even lacks isolation rooms. According to the sources, isolation rooms are a must to save lives of patients by protecting them from infections.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Nishtar Hospital to see the injured.

Accompanied by Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Sarfraz Sattar, the chief minister went to the bed of each injured and inquired about their health and the cause of the fire.

Talking to the attendants of the injured, the chief minister said that that complete health facilities were being provided to the patients.

“A number of people lost their precious lives while many others are critically injured. Efforts are under way for the early recovery of the injured,” he said.

He directed the doctors and the hospital administration to use all resources at their disposal to treat the injured.

He also directed Commissioner Bilal Butt and Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chatha to ensure best possible treatment.

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also visited the hospital. He said a probe into the incident should be conducted and people responsible for the incident should be punished.

He said that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would visit Bahawalpur after two days. He said the burns unit lacked 80 per cent staff which should be provided without any delay.

Veteran politician Javed Hashmi also visited the injured.

A worried attendant outside the burns unit said his nephew Yousuf, a resident of Mauza Hasan Channar in Ahmadpur East, was passing through the incident site along with his 11-year-old son Naeem.

“Naeem lost his life while Yousuf was shifted to Nishtar,” he said. He said that Yousaf made a phone call to his family and informed about the incident.

Bashiraan Mai, along with her two sisters and other relatives, was sitting outside the hospital and waiting for the permission to inquire about the health of her brother.

“A number of casualties took place in our family included men, children and women. We do not know the exact number of dead relatives. I lost my cousins and their children. My brother is in critical condition and is admitted to the burns unit. We are not being allowed to meet him,” she complained.

She said that people from seven villages were missing after the fire. Every house is mourning their loved ones,” she said.

Meanwhile on the direction of DC Nadir Chatha, arrangements for Iftar for the attendants were made in the hospital.

Mr Chatha and his team will offer Eid prayers on Monday with the attendants in the burns unit mosque.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2017