CHITTAGONG: Following a fire incident at Centre for Specialised Care and Research (CSCR), a private clinic of the port city, authorities declared services of the clinic closed on Saturday morning.

On the other hand, Fire service and civil surgeon offices have formed two separate investigation committee to look into the matter.

A devastating fire broke out the clinic located at OR Nizam Road of the port city around 8:20am. Following the incident, panicked patients and their relatives left the hospital.

Jasim Uddin, Deputy Assistant Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense Chittagong Divisional Office, told banglanews, “On information, three fire service units rushed to the spot and later seven more joined and brought the blaze under control after 40- minute frantic effort.”

He said fire service formed a three-member probe committee to trace out cause of fire and make report on whether fire extinguishing system was installed in the clinic.

Meanwhile, the fire fighters and hospital employees succeeded to evacuate the patients and workers of the hospital safely but panicked spread to patients for smokes of the fire.

He also said that electric short circuit may be the cause of the fire from ninth floor of the building. 

Hospital Director Dr Sanaullah Sheli told banglanews that hospital workers succeeded to bring the patients safely from the building and sent to adjacent hospitals. 

Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr Sarfaraj Khan Chowdhury said a three-member committee, headed by deputy civil surgeon Dr Rafique Uddin, has been formed to look into in the fire incident. The committee has been asked to submit the report within three days. 

** 9-storey Ctg clinic catches fire

BDST: 1141 HRS, MAY 10, 2014