Davangere hospital OT gutted in cylinder blast, none hurt

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MP Prabha Mallikarjun and others during a visit to the operation theatre that was gutted in an oxygen cylinder blast at Chigateri District Hospital on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The operation theatre (OT) at the Chigateri District Hospital in Davangere was gutted and the building suffered severe damage after an explosion caused by an oxygen cylinder on Tuesday.

According to sources, the mishap occurred around 8.45 a.m. in the second-floor surgical unit of the hospital which was being used for orthopaedic, eye, ear and nose procedures.

As the surgical procedures were scheduled to start at 9 a.m. the patients were waiting outside when the blast occurred. But, they escaped unhurt.

The sources said that around 8 a.m. the medical staff was preparing for the surgical procedures in the operation theatre when a technical glitch was noticed in a 12-kilo oxygen cylinder.

The staff immediately evacuated the room as a precautionary measure and a little later the blast occurred, the sources said.

The blast has caused severe damage to the structure. Medical equipment worth around ₹75 lakh have been destroyed. The impact of the blast also damaged machines and material in the adjacent anaesthesia department.

As thick smoke emanated after the blast, patients and employees were immediately evacuated from the building. On being alerted, Fire and Emergency Services personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire.

Further investigation is on to find out the cause of the mishap.

Following the mishap, Davangere MP Prabha Mallikarjun visited the hospital and sought information on the incident from the medical officers and also about the subsequent remedial measures taken.

She told presspersons that timely action by the fire brigade personnel prevented additional damage. She also directed the medical officers to resume the suspended medical services at the earliest and make alternative arrangements to ensure that health services for the general public are not affected.