Gas cylinder fire at Jogeshwari's Mallika Hospital leaves two staff badly burnt

A fire broke out on the terrace of Mallika Hospital in Mumbai's Jogeshwari (West) after a gas cylinder caught fire. Two staff members were seriously burnt in the incident and are currently under treatment.

According to initial estimates, the incident was caused by a gas leak, though the exact cause of the fire and the subsequent flare-up has not yet been confirmed. A gas cylinder was kept on the hospital's terrace. Some staff members were present on the terrace at the time, and one of them had been asked to make tea. As soon as he tried to light the gas to make tea, a sudden, powerful flare-up occurred.

Two staff members were badly burnt in the incident. As soon as the hospital administration learnt of the accident, the injured staff members were immediately admitted for treatment. However, given the severity of the burns, both were shifted to another hospital for further treatment. Both staff members are currently undergoing treatment, and their condition is being described as serious.

Police reached the spot as soon as they learnt of the incident and carried out an inquiry. The staff members who were present on the terrace at the time, as well as the relatives of the injured, were questioned, and police recorded the relatives' statements. However, police have made clear that no complaint has been filed by the relatives against the hospital administration so far. The investigation is meanwhile focused on how exactly the gas cylinder leaked, whether the required safety rules for keeping a cylinder on the terrace were followed, and whether there was any other cause behind the fire.

The incident has raised questions about the maintenance of gas cylinders and fire-prevention arrangements at a sensitive location such as a hospital. Whether the hospital administration followed fire safety rules is likely to be examined. Police have not registered any case in the matter so far, but said that if the investigation finds any violation of rules or negligence, action will be taken against those responsible. Following the incident, people have demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the fire brigade inspect the hospital's safety arrangements. The total extent of the damage caused by the fire and the actual cause of the gas leak will become clear only after further investigation.