Kozhikode: The long-pending demand to set up a fire station at Kozhikode Medical College remains unfulfilled, despite repeated appeals and recommendations. A recommendation had been made by the District Fire Officer to install four new fire stations in the city, including one adjacent to the Medical College. However, the proposal still remains only on paper.

Four years ago, a petition had been submitted by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kozhikode Mayor Dr Beena Philip, along with the local residents, stressing the urgent need for a fire station near the medical college. Yet, no initiatives have been taken to implement the project. Around 20 cents of land had been requested near the medical college for setting up the fire station, but no effort has been made to acquire the land.

The issue resurfaced recently after smoke was detected at the medical college due to short circuit. The Congress party alleged that the health department’s unwillingness to allocate land is the main reason behind the delay. Beside the medical college, proposals had also been made for fire stations in Karaparamba, Beypore, and Puthiyappa. On average, more than 5,000 people visit the medical college daily, making it one of the most major government hospitals in Kerala.

Currently, fire units from Vellimadukunnu and the Beach Station respond to emergencies at the Medical College. The Beach Station is eight kilometres away and operates with only one unit. The Vellimadukunnu station is four kilometres away and is in charge of a large area, which compels the need for a dedicated fire station at the medical college.

M.K. Muneer flays negligence

M.K. Muneer, MLA, criticised the negligence shown towards the medical college, stating that the authorities have no solid plans to manage emergencies effectively. He revealed that although a plan was drawn up, it failed due to the inability to grant just 20 cents of land. "And now, when disasters occur, they try to justify their inaction," he remarked.

Explosion: Investigation underway

An expert committee has been launched to investigate the explosion that occurred in the emergency wing of the hospital. The inspection started around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Officials from the Electrical Inspectorate and the Public Works Department’s electrical division jointly inspected the site. Restoring the emergency wing completely will take several days. Other floors are expected to resume operations after cleaning works soon.

The UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) unit connected to the MRI machine, which has been installed in a temperature-controlled room, was damaged and will need a repair and restoration from a private agency due to its sensitive biomedical nature. The ceiling above the UPS room sustained minor damage, with some aluminium panels dislodged and slight cracks on the wall. However, officials confirmed that the structural damage is minimal. A total of 34 batteries exploded, and one of them has still retained the charge at the time of inspection, said deputy chief inspector KP Jothish. Officials confirmed that the battery explosion had caused the smoke.

PMSSY building: Faults still surface

The disaster occurred within the Emergency Department housed in the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) building, which is now entering its fourth year since inauguration in 2022. Constructed by HLL Infra Tech Services Ltd. (HITES) at a cost of ₹195 crore, the building had shown defects even after completion, including leakages from upper floors. In August 2023, the building was handed over to the Public Works Department, with a condition that the construction company would complete remaining electrical fittings within two months. The Emergency Department began functioning in the new building from March 2023.

Political protests demand accountability

The BJP city district committee and Muslim Youth League staged protests demanding a proper investigation into the cause of the fire. Both groups marched to and picketed the medical college principal’s office. BJP leaders K.P. Prakash Babu, T.V. Unnikrishnan, and M. Suresh led the protest, while the Muslim Youth League protest was headed by district president Mishab Keezhariyur, K.M. Rasheed, and A. Shijith Khan. Following the protests, Medical college police arrested 12 BJP and 5 Muslim Youth League workers.

Emergency services must be restored within campus, says DCC

DCC President K. Praveen Kumar criticised the decision to temporarily shift casualty services to the Beach Hospital, calling it a betrayal of the trust of the public. He demanded the immediate restoration of emergency services at the medical college itself. He also insisted that the government should bear the full treatment costs of patients who had to be shifted to other hospitals due to the incident. If the death had occured as a result of the incident, he urged the government to compensate affected families.

UDF calls for investigation

UDF District Convener Ahmed Punnakal stated that the incident raises concerns about the medical college’s mismanagement and poor infrastructure. He called on the government to restructure the administration and conduct an impartial investigation into the explosion.