Massive Fire at Guwahati Medical College Orthopaedics Ward
Massive Fire Breaks Out at Guwahati Medical College’s Orthopaedics Department — No Casualties Reported
GG News Bureau
Guwahati, July 8 — Panic gripped the premises of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) today morning after a fire broke out in the Orthopaedics Department, triggering an emergency evacuation of patients and medical staff. Though the blaze created chaos and thick smoke enveloped the ward area, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far, according to preliminary hospital sources.
The fire reportedly started around 10:15 AM in a section of the Orthopaedics unit — believed to be the Minor Operation Theatre or a storage area adjacent to it. Eyewitnesses, including patients and nurses, say they first noticed sparks and smoke near the power sockets, followed by a rapid spread of flames across one side of the department. Within minutes, fire alarms were triggered, and hospital authorities began shifting patients from the affected area.
Multiple firefighting units from Guwahati Fire Services rushed to the scene and brought the blaze under control within 40 minutes. Fire officials are currently investigating the cause, though early indications suggest an electrical short-circuit may have been the trigger.
A video posted on social media showing flames and smoke billowing from the department went viral, raising concerns among the public and families of admitted patients. “We heard people shouting ‘fire’ and then the whole corridor was filled with smoke,” said one bystander who was accompanying a relative at the hospital. “Everyone was scared, especially the patients on stretchers and in wheelchairs.”
Hospital Superintendent Dr. Anup Barman confirmed that all patients and staff were safely evacuated and that emergency procedures were promptly followed. “We acted quickly as per protocol and ensured that the fire did not reach the ICU or operating theatres,” he told reporters. “No lives were at risk. We are now assessing the extent of damage to infrastructure and medical equipment.”
Sources within the administration also added that a detailed audit of electrical wiring and fire safety measures will now be conducted across all departments of GMCH. Patient services in the Orthopaedics unit have been temporarily shifted to nearby wings, and treatment is continuing without interruption.
As Guwahati’s premier medical institution, GMCH sees thousands of patients daily, and today’s fire incident has sparked renewed debate over fire preparedness in crowded public hospitals.
