AIIMS Delhi, a renowned medical institution, experienced a disruption in its services, leading to the transfer of numerous patients to other healthcare facilities. The disruption also extended to diagnostic services, including procedures such as MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound-guided biopsies.
New Delhi: Following a fire incident at AIIMS Delhi, hundreds of patients, including children, who were admitted to the emergency and paediatric casualty ward, had to be relocated to other hospitals such as Safdarjung Hospital, GB Pant, and RML. Ambulance arrivals at the emergency ward were redirected to Safdarjung Hospital, and empty stretchers were visible outside the emergency building. Diagnostic services, including MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound-guided biopsies, were also disrupted.
Anand Kumar, who had accompanied his 53-year-old mother for an endoscopy, vividly described the tumultuous situation that unfolded during the fire incident. He recounted how the hospital’s dedicated staff and resident doctors swiftly organized the evacuation process, guiding people to safety through the designated fire exits.
Shweta Singh, a patient grappling with heart blockage, voiced her frustration over the unforeseen disruption caused by the fire. Having patiently waited since morning for her scheduled CT scan, she lamented the situation that forced her appointment to be rescheduled for a later date due to the fire incident.
Mohammed Amir Hussain, who was admitted to the AB-2 ward and in anticipation of a pending surgery, was compelled to vacate the ward due to the fire emergency. He shared his experience of the unsettling situation, highlighting the ambiguity surrounding the timing of his scheduled surgery and recounting the process of evacuation that took place during the fire outbreak.
An unnamed official mentioned that other hospitals had been informed not to refer patients to AIIMS until further notice. Some patients were also transferred to the AIIMS trauma centre as part of the contingency measures.
