Surat, May 7 – Panic broke out at Mission Hospital located in Surat’s upscale Athwa Lines area today after a fire erupted on the ground floor of the facility. Thick plumes of smoke emerging from the lower level alarmed patients and staff, prompting immediate evacuation efforts.
Multiple fire engines were dispatched to the scene as soon as the Surat Fire Department received the alert. Firefighters and emergency responders acted swiftly, evacuating approximately 20 patients on stretchers from the building. Over ten fire personnel were involved in containing the blaze, using continuous water sprays to bring the situation under control.
Fire Officer Krushna Modh from Surat Fire Brigade, speaking to the media on-site, stated that preliminary investigations suggested the fire originated near the server room and X-ray unit on the ground floor. He added that dense smoke had engulfed the area when fire personnel arrived, complicating their efforts to control the flames.
The blaze was eventually doused using a combination of foam and water to prevent it from spreading to other sections of the hospital. Authorities have now launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and whether the hospital had adequate fire safety equipment in place at the time of the incident.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rakesh Barot also reached the hospital to assess the situation. He spoke with hospital authorities to gather details regarding the fire's origin and reviewed the safety protocols in place.
An eyewitness who assisted in the rescue efforts shared that although the exact cause of the fire was unknown, they helped carry nearly 20 patients from upper floors to safety. One of the patients, a woman being treated for fever, described the terrifying moment when smoke began filling the wards and people started shouting to evacuate. She said she fled downstairs to save her life.
At the time of the incident, several patients were admitted at the hospital, some of whom were wheeled out along with their beds. News of the fire quickly spread through the city, prompting relatives and concerned citizens to rush to the hospital, which briefly hindered the rescue operations.
The situation is now under control, and the hospital administration is currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
