Massive blaze damages operation theatre and destroys medical equipment worth crores at Chigateri District Hospital; no casualties reported due to timely evacuation
A major fire broke out at Chigateri District Hospital in Karnataka’s Davangere district on Tuesday morning after an oxygen cylinder reportedly exploded inside an operation theatre (OT), causing extensive damage to medical equipment worth crores of rupees. Fortunately, no patients or hospital staff were injured, as the operation theatre was evacuated immediately after a technical fault was detected.
The incident occurred at around 8:45 AM in the hospital’s surgical unit on the second floor, where orthopaedic, ophthalmology and ENT surgeries are routinely performed.
Technical Fault Detected Before Explosion
According to hospital officials, medical staff were preparing the operation theatre for scheduled surgeries at around 8:00 AM when they noticed a technical fault in a 12-kg oxygen cylinder.
Recalling the incident, Dr Shilpashree, who was present at the time, said the team immediately evacuated the operation theatre after identifying the problem.
“When we were getting ready for surgery, a technical problem was detected. Everyone left the room. As soon as the accident occurred, the oxygen supply was stopped, and power was cut. If patients had already been given anaesthesia, the situation could have turned uncontrollable,” she said.
Explosion Triggers Fire, Equipment Worth Crores Destroyed
Moments later, the oxygen cylinder exploded, triggering a massive fire inside the operation theatre. Thick smoke quickly spread through the surgical unit, damaging adjoining rooms and destroying sophisticated medical equipment reportedly worth crores of rupees.
The incident also disrupted hospital operations, particularly surgical services, as several high-value precision instruments were completely damaged in the blaze.
Patients and Staff Evacuated Safely
Following the explosion, patients and hospital staff in the vicinity rushed out of the building as a precautionary measure.
Only seven to eight hospital staff members were present inside the affected area at the time of the incident, and all were evacuated safely.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel reached the hospital shortly after receiving the alert and successfully brought the fire under control before it could spread to other sections of the hospital.
Hospital authorities confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported due to the prompt response of the medical and emergency teams.
Karnataka Government Orders High-Level Investigation
Following the incident, Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader announced the constitution of a high-level investigation committee to determine the exact cause of the explosion and fire.
The minister said the inquiry will be conducted in consultation with senior state-level officials, while a separate local-level investigation will also be carried out under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the district.
According to the Health Minister, both inquiry reports will be examined by the Health Department, following which appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the findings and existing rules.
Cause of Explosion Under Investigation
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact reason behind the oxygen cylinder explosion. Investigators are examining whether the incident was caused by a technical malfunction, equipment failure or any other operational lapse.
The findings of the high-level and district-level inquiries are expected to determine the cause of the accident and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in healthcare facilities in the future.
