Early this morning, a chemical reaction at Madathukulam Government Hospital in Coimbatore caused a smoke scare, leading to panic among patients and staff, prompting evacuation and investigation by authorities.
Coimbatore: A sudden smoke outbreak triggered panic and chaos at the Madathukulam Government Hospital in the Tirupur district at around 4 AM today. Patients and their families were seen scrambling out of the building in distress. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aruna Kumari, quickly responded by notifying the fire department and the police, ensuring the rapid arrival of emergency services.
The incident led to the evacuation of several patients currently receiving treatment. Some were immediately transferred to Udumalai Government Hospital for safety. Firefighters entered the hospital to investigate the source of the smoke, initially inspecting the areas where cylinders were stored. They later discovered that a mixture of polishing powder and Lysol was present in the restroom area.
Further investigation revealed that an unsuspecting patient had accidentally triggered a chemical reaction by adding water to the toilet, which had been cleaned with these chemicals, leading to the creation of smoke. Prompt action and quick evacuation prevented any injuries, though the hospital was enveloped in smoke for some time.
The incident led to the evacuation of several patients currently receiving treatment. Some were immediately transferred to Udumalai Government Hospital for safety. Firefighters entered the hospital to investigate the source of the smoke, initially inspecting the areas where cylinders were stored. They later discovered that a mixture of polishing powder and Lysol was present in the restroom area.
Further investigation revealed that an unsuspecting patient had accidentally triggered a chemical reaction by adding water to the toilet, which had been cleaned with these chemicals, leading to the creation of smoke. Prompt action and quick evacuation prevented any injuries, though the hospital was enveloped in smoke for some time.