Three die of suffocation in hospital fire

Three patients have suffocated to death, after a fire broke out in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.

LAHORE: Three patients have suffocated to death, after a fire broke out in Jinnah Hospital, severely damaging the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The fire ignited due to a short circuit in the Record Room and quickly spread to the ICU.

The ward has been closed for the next five days.

Nine patients had been using artificial breathing machines at the ward when the fire broke out.

Firefighters rescued six of them, while three died of smoke inhalation.

Two hospital staff members became unconscious because of the smoke.

A three member committee has been set up to investigate whether the hospital's fire extinguishing system was up to standard.

Correction: September 14, 2010
Due to an error, an earlier version of this article misstated the hospital as JPMC Karachi. It is Jinnah Hospital Lahore, not Karachi.