A fire broke out in a long-disused and faulty elevator at the new building of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on Monday evening, triggering panic among patients, relatives, doctors, nurses and hospital staff.
The fire started at around 5:45pm on Monday, according to Dr Jhontu Sarker, store officer at the hospital.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control after about an hour of efforts. Four units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence—three from Mymensingh Sadar and one from Bangladesh Agricultural University—responded to the incident.
No casualties were reported immediately following the fire.
Dr Jhontu said the elevator had been out of service for a long time and had accumulated dirt and garbage. Hospital Ansar and police personnel said the fire may have been caused by a discarded cigarette or an electrical short circuit.
The flames reportedly spread from the faulty elevator on the second floor to the eighth floor of the building within a short time.
As news of the fire spread, patients, their relatives, doctors, nurses and other hospital employees rushed out of the eight-storey building, causing panic and confusion. Hundreds of curious onlookers also gathered on the hospital premises.
Mohammad Shibirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said the fire was brought under control after about an hour.
“Hospital operations are currently normal,” he said.
