Blaze at Khulna Medical College Hospital triggers panic among patients, relatives

Fire Service suspects an electrical short circuit caused the blaze

Firefighters have brought a blaze under control at Khulna Medical College Hospital after nearly an hour of efforts.

Three Fire Service and Civil Defence units rushed to the hospital's main building on Wednesday after flames broke out on the third floor around 6am.

Seven more units joined shortly after.

Masud Sardar, assistant director of the Fire Service, said the blaze was brought under control within an hour.

Smoke swept through the building, sparking panic across the entire hospital complex. Many patients and their attendants abandoned their beds and rushed outside.

No casualties have been reported. A damage assessment is under way.

Masud said a preliminary investigation pointed to an electrical short circuit as the likely cause.

Hospital authorities were not available for comment. Staff, however, said the fire started in the operation theatre on the third floor of the main building, which was locked at the time.