A short circuit triggered a sudden fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Gandhi Memorial Hospital late Thursday night, sending a wave of panic through the facility. Staff on duty managed to bring the blaze under control using fire extinguishers, preventing what could have been a major tragedy.

The fire broke out around 11:30 pm when sparks from an electrical short spread quickly within the ward. Nurses on night duty noticed the smoke first and raised an alarm.

Panic and Evacuation

Within minutes, the ward turned chaotic. Family members waiting outside rushed toward the unit as smoke began filling the corridor. Some parents were seen carrying their newborns in their arms while staff guided others to safer sections of the hospital.

"All infants were moved to a different ward within 10 minutes. The staff acted quickly without waiting for fire brigade arrival," a hospital source said.

Local authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported.

Maintenance Work Stopped for Months

Behind the scare lies a larger administrative failure. Sources familiar with the matter said the agency responsible for electrical maintenance had stopped all work at the hospital several months ago. The reason? Non-payment by the medical college dean's office.

According to hospital insiders, repeated requests for clearing pending dues were ignored. As a result, basic upkeep of electrical systems and life-saving equipment had been neglected for nearly four months.

Previous Warnings Ignored

This is not the first time questions have been raised about infrastructure safety at GMH. Last year, doctors had flagged faulty wiring in two other wards. In June, a minor electrical malfunction had disrupted oxygen supply briefly, though no serious injury followed.

Despite these warnings, hospital management failed to initiate repairs or allocate funds for overdue maintenance contracts.

What Next?

District health officials have ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident. A report has been sought from the hospital superintendent within three days. Meanwhile, opposition leaders in Rewa have demanded strict action against those responsible for withholding maintenance payments.

For now, the newborns remain under observation in an adjoining ward. Staff say all are stable. But parents who spent the night outside the hospital corridors are not easily reassured.

Short circuit triggers fire at Rewa’s National Hospital; patients evacuated

Short circuit blamed for blaze; no serious injuries reported as staff and local firefighters doused flames and evacuated patients.

A short circuit in a wing of Rewa’s National Hospital on Tuesday afternoon sparked a fire that sent patients, attendants and staff rushing out of the building, hospital officials and local authorities said.

What happened
According to hospital sources and initial on-site accounts, the blaze began in a corridor near the outpatient block at around 2:10 pm. Smoke and flames spread quickly, prompting alarm among those inside. “There was thick smoke and people started coming out of the wards,” a staff nurse who asked not to be named told reporters at the scene.

Immediate response
Hospital staff activated the in-house fire response and used portable extinguishers while calling the Rewa fire station, officials said. Local firefighters arrived within about 15–20 minutes and helped bring the situation under control. Management said the hospital’s automatic alarm and emergency-lighting system alerted staff promptly.

Evacuation and casualties
Patients, their relatives and non-critical cases were evacuated to an open area beside the hospital; critical patients were shifted to other wards inside under supervision. Initial reports indicate there were no deaths and no serious injuries. A few people complained of mild breathing difficulty from smoke inhalation and were treated at the hospital’s emergency department and released, officials said.

Cause being probed
Early assessments by the hospital’s maintenance team point to an electrical short circuit in a junction near the corridor as the likely cause. “Preliminary indication is a short circuit,” a hospital manager said. “We have handed over the matter to the electrical department and local authorities for a thorough probe.” The municipal electrical inspector and the fire department will examine wiring and safety compliance, the manager added.

Ground-level reactions
Residents and shopkeepers in the surrounding Saman police station area gathered outside as firefighters battled the flames, creating brief congestion on the adjoining road. “We saw smoke and everyone rushed out. It was scary for a while,” said a relative of a patient who was present. Traffic police diverted vehicles away from the hospital to allow emergency services unimpeded access.

Damage and impact
Though authorities said the fire was limited to a section of the building, it caused damage to electrical fittings, ceiling panels and some furniture. Hospital officials have not provided a final estimate of financial loss. Several outpatient appointments scheduled for the late afternoon were postponed and will be rescheduled, management confirmed.

Safety measures and next steps
Hospital management issued a statement saying it will review and strengthen safety protocols to prevent recurrence. “We will conduct a full audit of electrical systems and emergency procedures,” the statement read. The Rewa municipal corporation and district administration have been informed and will monitor follow-up actions, a municipal official said.

Context and background
Fires triggered by electrical faults in crowded indoor settings have been a recurring safety concern across India, prompting periodic government advisories on electrical maintenance and fire drills in public institutions. Local fire officials said the National Hospital’s quick internal response likely prevented a larger disaster.

Forward look
The fire department has registered an incident report and will file a technical cause report after inspecting the site. Hospital authorities have asked staff to remain on heightened alert and said they will update patients and the public once the investigation concludes. In the meantime, routine services are expected to resume after safety checks and minor repairs.

Car Fire on Rewa Road

Driver Jumps Out Just in Time

A moving Ford Fiesta suddenly caught fire late Sunday night in Rewa district’s Garhiya locality, under Bichiya police station limits. The driver managed to jump out of the vehicle just as flames began spreading, saving his own life. No one was injured in the incident. But the car was completely gutted.

Eyewitnesses said smoke started rising from the car while it was still moving. Within minutes, the smoke turned into thick flames that rapidly engulfed the entire vehicle.

Locals Rush to Help

People nearby rushed toward the burning car after seeing the fire. Some tried to alert other motorists. Others quickly called the police and fire department. There was visible panic in the area for a short while, but the driver had already moved to a safe distance by then.

The fire brigade team reached the spot after receiving the alert. They worked for nearly 20 minutes to bring the blaze under complete control. By the time the flames were doused, the Ford Fiesta had turned into a blackened, twisted frame. Nothing much remained.

Short Circuit Likely Cause

Initial assessments by officials suggest a short circuit or some other technical failure triggered the fire. “The car was running normally until the driver noticed smoke from the dashboard. He stopped, but the fire spread too fast,” said an official who did not wish to be named. Police have registered the matter. Bichiya police station is conducting an初步 investigation.

No official forensic report has come out yet. But sources familiar with the matter said electrical malfunction remains the primary line of inquiry.

Questions Over Police Response

The incident has sparked quiet criticism in the locality about how quickly police reacted. Some residents said officers reached the spot only after the fire had already destroyed the car. “When something like this happens on a road, police should act faster. What if it had been a crowded market area?” asked a local shopkeeper who saw the fire.

Authorities have not issued any formal statement on the response time yet. Traffic in the area was briefly disrupted but returned to normal after midnight. Officials have urged vehicle owners to get regular electrical checks done, especially for older models. The Ford Fiesta involved in the fire was reported to be over 10 years old.

The driver is said to be stable and has recorded his statement with the police. No further complaints have been lodged so far.