A major tragedy was averted as a fire broke out at Galaxy Hospital on the premises of Ayurved Rasashala in the early hours of Monday. Pune fire brigade teams managed to save 25-odd patients from the intensive care unit of the hospital during the rescue operation that went on for about half an hour. Around 3.30 am on Monday,a fire broke out in the one of the three operation theatres on the first floor of the hospital. Fire station officer Rajesh Jagtap,who attended the call,said: The fire from the first floor immediately spread to the second floor. The fumes reached the ICU on the first floor. We rescued 14 persons,including patients and their relatives,making them climb down from the windows. Officials said the cause of the fire could be a short-circuit in the wiring or equipment. Jagtap added: While one of our teams was extinguishing the fire,another team started evacuating the patients on the second floor. They were moved to the second floor of the adjacent building with the help of ladders. A total of about 26 persons were safely moved without any injuries. Meanwhile,the fire also spread to the hospitals kitchen. But the LPG cylinders had already been removed by the firemen by then. A number of hospital equipment were damaged,said the local police. The rescue teams comprised fire officers Sunil Gilbile,Pramod Sonavane and 30 firemen,besides Jagtap.
