AIIMS Delhi hit by stubborn fire accident - No casualties reported

A massive fire broke out at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi on Saturday (August 17) evening. The fire broke out sometime around 5 pm on the first to fifth floors of a building in the PC block of AIIMS Delhi. The blaze was spotted on the first and second floor of the building. As many as 22 fire tenders were immediately sent by the fire brigade after it was alerted. Later, more vehicles were sent bringing the total number of fire tenders to 40. Initially, the fire was limited to the first two floors.

Just when it seemed certain that fire  had been brought under control after 8 o'clock in the evening, inputs suggested that fire was spreading on the fifth floor of the teaching block building. Patients were then shifted to other wards and even other hospitals for their safety.

Firemen battled the blaze till about 12 at night. 40 fire tenders were there on the spot. A team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was dispatched to aid in the effort.

“A Fire broke out in teaching block of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Saturday evening. The fire which started in the teaching block of the premier hospital destroyed medical reports and samples”, said one report.

After battling the flames for about two hours, the firefighters were able to bring the inferno under control. However, that danger was far from over.

A press statement issued later on by AIIMS stated that the Delhi fire services along with AIIMS fire division had controlled the fire and were still on the job. There has been no loss or damage to life.

A total of 34 fire tenders reached the spot and were involved in dousing the flames, said one report. Some news channels however, put it at 40, meaning that a calibrated increase in the number had to be carried out to tame the inferno.   

National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams were also rushed to the spot and aided the firefighting operations. Two teams of NDRF comprising 80 men were deployed to AIIMS to help douse the fire. As late as by 10 pm the fifth floor fire was still raging.

Delhi Fire Service Director, VipinKental said, "The fire is completely under control. Cooling operation is underway, they'll continue for some more time, the staff will be here to monitor that. No casualty has been reported."

The fire spread to the fifth floor with general ward patients being shifted to another ward. Sources say the fire on the fifth floor was the result of an AC compressor that blew up. The fire on the first and second was due to a short circuit.