Bannu hospital fire contained within minutes as patients safely evacuated

Summary Rescue 1122 said its teams reached the hospital approximately five minutes after receiving the emergency call. Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Noman said the fire broke out at approximately 10am. Noman added that hospital employees had recently received special training in emergency fire response following the deadly blaze at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. AI Generated Summary BANNU: A fire that erupted in the urology ward of Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital in Bannu on Monday was brought under control within minutes, with all patients safely evacuated and no casualties reported. Rescue 1122 said its teams reached the hospital approximately five minutes after receiving the emergency call. The fire was extinguished within around 10 minutes, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the facility. Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Noman said the fire broke out at approximately 10am. Preliminary information indicated that an electrical spark may have triggered the incident. Hospital staff and rescue personnel immediately moved patients to a safe location before launching firefighting efforts. The prompt response, he said, helped avert a potentially serious accident. Noman added that hospital employees had recently received special training in emergency fire response following the deadly blaze at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. According to him, the staff were able to apply that training during Monday's emergency. He said the combination of staff preparedness, a rapid response and coordination with Rescue 1122 was instrumental in bringing the situation under control without loss of life. The Bannu incident comes less than two weeks after a devastating fire at PIMS in Islamabad claimed the lives of 14 infants. The tragedy triggered widespread concern over fire safety arrangements at healthcare facilities and prompted authorities to strengthen emergency preparedness measures. A similar incident was also reported on Saturday at Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan, where a fire broke out in an operating theatre during a surgical procedure. Doctors and paramedical staff immediately stopped the procedure and transferred the patient to safety. The blaze was reportedly linked to faulty electrical wiring. The latest incidents have once again highlighted the importance of effective fire-safety systems, staff training and rapid emergency response in hospitals, where even a minor electrical fault can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation.