Khulna: A five-member committee has been established to investigate the fire incident at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH). The committee was formed by the district administration on Wednesday night following instructions from higher authorities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, KMCH Director Sheikh Ainul Haque has been appointed as the chief of the committee, while Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Nurul Bhai Mohammad Anas serves as the member secretary. The committee also includes acting deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Md Masud Sardar, Executive Engineer of the Electromechanical Division of the Public Works Department Abdul Halim, and a representative from the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited.
Md Masud Sardar indicated that preliminary findings suggest the fire originated from an electrical short circuit. The incident resulted in damage to several beds in the post-operative ward adjacent to the operation theatre and some discarded materials stored in a third-floor storeroom. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within 24 hours.
The fire, which broke out around 6 am on Wednesday on the third floor of the four-storey hospital building, saw ten firefighting units bringing the blaze under control after nearly an hour. During the evacuation and rescue operation, two nurses and one fire service member sustained injuries, with the injured fire service member being sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment. Additionally, several patients reportedly died after relatives removed their oxygen support in panic during the evacuation.