A 66-year-old woman was killed and 16 others injured after an explosion in an air conditioning unit sparked a fire at a private hospital in Dehradun on Wednesday, officials said.
The incident took place at Panasia Hospital near Rispana Bridge at around 9.35 am and the deceased was identified as Veeravati. The air conditioner was in the hospital’s intensive care unit, officials said. At the time of the accident, 14 patients were hospitalized, including at least four to five people who were admitted to the intensive care unit.
Officials added that preliminary results indicate that the cause was an electrical short.
Teams from the district administration, police, fire services and state disaster response force participated in the rescue operation. They rescued about seven attendees, staff and others trapped in the building, and transferred all patients to nearby facilities. Officials said critically ill patients were given priority for transport.
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They added that Veeravati’s death was prima facie caused by smoke inhalation. She was on a ventilator, an official said.
He added that three members of the police and fire services were injured during the rescue operation.
The district administration ordered a detailed investigation into the causes of the fire.
“Due to the thick smoke and gas inside the ICU, many patients and some police personnel suffered breathing difficulties and were admitted to Kailash Hospital for treatment,” District SSP Bramendra Dobhal said.
