RAWALPINDI: Seven people were injured in an accidental fire that broke out in the officers’ ward of the Military Hospital (MH) on Sunday, said rescue services.

Moments before the fire, an explosion was heard in the building which the police said was a boiler’s blast.

The rescue services said: “Seven people were injured in the fire that erupted on the first floor of officers’ ward of Military Hospital. The fire spread to the second floor as the firefighters from the rescue services and fire crew of army tried to control it.”

Eyewitness and rescue services said smoke emitting from the officers’ ward could be seen from a long distance.

The emergency services said they received a call at about 4:40pm and within six minutes reached the spot.

A senior police official told Dawn that police and traffic wardens were deployed to keep the road to the MH clear for the fire engines.

“Some shops located on the main road were also closed to avoid pubic gathering as firefighting operation was going on,” said the official.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2019