In the early hours of Tuesday, a sudden outbreak of thick smoke sparked panic among patients and staff at the Mahabodhi Burns Centre in Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru.
According to hospital sources, the incident began when the building’s lights unexpectedly went out around 3 AM. Shortly afterward, smoke started seeping into the wards and corridors, alarming patients who were recovering from severe burns and could not move easily.
Though no flames were visible initially, the dense smoke created a choking atmosphere, forcing the medical team to act quickly. Staff rushed to evacuate over a dozen patients to safer areas within the hospital complex. Some patients were moved on stretchers and wheelchairs, while others were assisted out manually by hospital workers and attendants.
Firefighters and BBMP officials arrived soon after receiving distress calls. Preliminary checks suggested that an electrical short circuit in the power distribution panel may have caused the smoke. The fire department ensured that there was no hidden fire and ventilated the building to clear the fumes.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the evacuation. Officials later confirmed that all patients were safe and had been shifted back to their wards after the area was declared secure.
Authorities have launched a detailed inspection of the electrical systems to prevent a recurrence. The hospital management assured families that safety measures are being reviewed and upgraded to avoid such incidents in the future.