Staff Reporter :
At approximately 1:30 pm, a garment worker named Rina Akhtar found herself in the midst of chaos outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute in Agargaon.
Her relative was receiving treatment in the ICU when suddenly a fire erupted, prompting Rina to spring into action. Without hesitation, she rushed into the ICU and successfully brought her relative to safety amidst the turmoil.
Recounting the harrowing experience, Rina Akhtar described the frantic search for her relative, Ripa Moni, in the darkness of the extinguished lights within the ICU. Ripa Moni, with a cannula in hand, was swiftly evacuated by Rina, illustrating the urgency and courage displayed during the crisis.
As news of the fire spread, a collective effort ensued, with individuals rushing to the scene to rescue their loved ones.
Fire service officials later revealed that inadequate fire safety measures at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital contributed to the delay in extinguishing the fire.
Mohammad Fakhruddin, senior station officer of Mohammadpur Fire Station, lamented the absence of fire hydrants and sufficient water reserves within the hospital premises.
Despite its stature as a major healthcare facility, the hospital lacked adequate fire-fighting infrastructure, relying solely on fire extinguishers for emergencies.
The fire, which originated in the cardiac intensive care unit around 1:35 p.m., prompted a swift response from the fire service, which was alerted at 1:47 p.m. Five units of the fire service laboured for 40 minutes to bring the situation under control, thankfully resulting in no casualties.
Fakhruddin detailed the challenges faced during the firefighting operation, including the need to source water from the adjacent National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital due to insufficient reserves at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital.
The absence of proper fire hydrants compounded the difficulties faced by firefighters.
Initial investigations suggest that the fire may have originated from an air conditioner in the cardiac intensive care unit, although a conclusive determination awaits further scrutiny.
Despite the damage inflicted on hospital equipment, efforts to resume services are already underway.
Meanwhile, the Shishu Hospital authorities have formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the fire incident.
The committee has been asked to submit a report within three days, Professor Dr. Jahangir Alam, director of the hospital, said in a press briefing in the afternoon.
The committee will be led by the hospital’s CICU department head. Other members include a maintenance engineer, an electrical engineer, a ward master, a nurse, and a fire service representative.
Dr. Jahangir said, “Now our main focus is to resume service. If our own technical team, electronic engineers, the DPDC, and the Fire Service give us the nod after checking the building, we can start working from the ground floor.
“Work has started. However, I cannot say anything specific without the decision of the investigation committee.”