A fire erupted at the Balasore District Head Hospital on Saturday morning, damaging the housekeeping unit within the sweeper's office.
The blaze reportedly started due to cleaning acid stored in the room, which also contained phenyl, cloth, spirit, and other hospital supplies. Smoke was spotted by patient relatives, who immediately alerted authorities.
While no injuries were reported, the incident caused significant panic among patients, their attendants, and hospital staff. The fire department swiftly arrived and brought the fire under control before it could spread. The hospital administration has launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.