While showing a united front, everyone be it men-in-uniform, locals, attendants, employees or activists helped in the safe evacuation of over 200 immobile patients from a Srinagar hospital on Friday late evening.
A three-story building of Bone and Joint Hospital located in the Barzulla area of uptown Srinagar was completely gutted in a massive blaze. Over 200 patients were inside the hospital at the time of the unexpected blaze.
Shortly after the flames emanated from the Theatre Block of the hospitals, people mostly young rushed towards the spot and started evacuating the patients. People along with police not only helped firefighters but also managed vehicles to shift the patients to safer places.
“The evacuation process was difficult as majority of the patients with fractures and plastered limbs were immobile. The courageous young people put their 100% and took out the patients from the hospital wards. It was a massive blaze but the efforts put by rescuers bore fruits and thankfully not a single patient was harmed,” an activist told the news agency Kashmir News Trust on condition of anonymity.
The subject is being widely discussed on social media and netizens are hailing the efforts of locals, employees, firefighters, and police.
Even young men from Srinagar’s Down Town area rushed to the spot to help in the evacuation process.
“I am not exaggerating. It’s true and I am the witness to the courageous act of some youth who put their lives in danger and saved staffers and elderly patients. SHO Police Saddar went deep inside the hospital amid flames when cylinder blasts were rocking the area,” said a social activist.
Various social organizations kept their ambulances ready outside the hospital and moved the patients to safety.