A fire broke out in the emergency ward of the Medicine Department at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital (Mekahara) in Raipur on Tuesday afternoon, triggering panic among patients, attendants and hospital staff. The blaze, suspected to have originated from an air-conditioning unit, was brought under control after a prompt response by the fire department, while all patients in the affected ward were safely evacuated.

According to preliminary information, smoke began billowing from the emergency ward after an apparent malfunction in one of the air-conditioning units. Within minutes, the smoke spread across the ward, prompting hospital authorities to initiate an emergency evacuation. Doctors, nursing staff, security personnel and emergency responders worked together to shift patients to safer areas, including the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), to prevent any casualties.

Fire tenders reached the hospital immediately after the incident was reported. Firefighters battled dense smoke and flames before successfully containing the blaze. Officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control after sustained firefighting efforts, preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the hospital.

Hospital sources said six patients were present in the affected ward at the time of the incident. All of them were evacuated without delay, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far. The hospital administration stated that treatment for the shifted patients continued uninterrupted after they were relocated.

Initial assessments indicate that the fire may have been triggered by a fault or explosion in an air-conditioning unit installed in the emergency ward. However, authorities have clarified that the exact cause will only be established after a detailed technical inspection.

Chief Fire Officer Pushpraj Singh said the fire had been completely extinguished and added that electricity supply to the affected section would remain disconnected until a thorough inspection is completed. He noted that while an AC malfunction appears to be the likely cause, the exact reason will be confirmed only after the investigation.

Hospital Superintendent Dr. Santosh Sonkar described the incident as a matter requiring detailed examination and said an inquiry has been initiated to determine the circumstances that led to the fire. He added that patient safety remained the administration’s top priority throughout the emergency response.

Dr. Resham, another hospital official, confirmed that all patients from the emergency medicine ward had been shifted to the ICU and other safe locations as a precautionary measure. Medical teams continued monitoring their condition while normal emergency services were reorganised to minimise disruption.

Eyewitnesses and hospital employees reported seeing smoke emerging from the air-conditioning system shortly before flames became visible. The incident led to temporary chaos inside the hospital, with attendants rushing outside as emergency personnel secured the premises.

This is not the first fire-related incident reported at Mekahara Hospital. Hospital officials recalled an earlier case in which an AC compressor reportedly caught fire during a surgical procedure, leading to a similar emergency response. That incident was also controlled without major casualties after firefighters intervened.

Authorities are now expected to examine the hospital’s electrical systems, air-conditioning infrastructure and fire safety mechanisms to determine whether additional preventive measures are required. The findings of the investigation will also establish whether any negligence or equipment failure contributed to the incident.

The administration has assured patients and their families that essential medical services remain operational and that necessary precautions are being taken to ensure safety while the affected section undergoes inspection and restoration.