A fire broke out at the child ward (paediatric ward) of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital’s new building on Monday evening, triggering panic among patients and their attendants.

The fire broke out around 6:00 pm in the paediatric ward on the third floor of the hospital’s new building, said Julhaz Uddin, station officer of Mymensingh Sadar Fire Service.

A firefighting unit from the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Fire Station rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. However, thick smoke accumulated inside the building.

The fire sparked panic among patients and their attendants, leading to a rush as they tried to move downstairs. Several people fell and sustained injuries amid the chaos, the fire service official said.

No major damage was reported immediately in the incident.

Dr Mohammad Main Uddin Khan, assistant director (administration) of MMCH, said the fire was initially suspected to have originated from the hospital’s lift machine.