A sudden SZMCH fire broke out inside the operating theatre of Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan on Saturday morning, sending panic through patients and staff during an ongoing surgical procedure. The blaze started in the electrical wiring and quickly filled the theatre with smoke. Doctors halted the operation at once and moved the patient to safety. No injuries or deaths have been reported so far.
Background: SZMCH Hospital and Its Role in the Region
Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital, widely known as SZMCH, is the largest healthcare facility in Rahim Yar Khan district. Built with nearly 900 beds, it serves thousands of patients from across southern Punjab every month. The hospital is attached to Sheikh Zayed Medical College, which was established in 2003 and remains one of the region’s key teaching institutions. Given its size and patient load, any hospital fire incident at this facility naturally draws wide public concern.
Details: How the Fire During Operation Started
According to hospital sources, doctors and paramedical staff were carrying out a surgical procedure in one of the operating theatres during the early hours of Saturday. A fault in the electrical wiring is believed to have triggered the fire. Within moments, thick smoke began spreading across the theatre and into nearby sections of the hospital.
The medical team reacted swiftly. The ongoing operation was suspended immediately, and the patient on the table was shifted to a safer part of the hospital. Staff and other patients in the vicinity were also moved out as a precaution while the situation was brought under control.
Rescue teams and fire brigade personnel reached the hospital shortly after the alarm was raised. Officials said the fire brigade worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further into the building. The panic at SZMCH eased once firefighters confirmed the flames had been extinguished and the smoke had cleared.
Fire officials examining the scene said the blaze was apparently caused by a short circuit in the theatre’s wiring system. A detailed technical inspection is expected to confirm the exact source of the electrical fault.
Quotes: What Officials Are Saying
Deputy Commissioner Rahim Yar Khan, Zaheer Anwar Jappa, took notice of the incident soon after it was reported and asked for an immediate report from the concerned departments. He directed the Assistant Commissioner to visit the hospital, assess the damage on the ground, and coordinate with hospital administration and rescue departments.
District authorities said hospital management has been asked to submit a full written report explaining how the fire started and whether existing safety measures were adequate. Officials added that a thorough investigation would be carried out to identify lapses, if any, in the hospital’s fire-prevention systems.
Impact: What This Means for Patients and Hospital Operations
The fire during operation has renewed questions about the state of electrical infrastructure in public hospitals across Punjab. SZMCH handles a heavy volume of surgeries and emergency cases daily, and even a brief disruption in its operating theatres affects patient care across the facility. Families of patients admitted to the hospital expressed concern over safety standards, while hospital staff said backup protocols helped prevent a larger tragedy.
Regionally, the episode adds to a growing list of fire incidents reported at public hospitals in Punjab in recent years, putting fresh pressure on health authorities to review wiring, fire alarms, and emergency exits at government-run medical facilities.
Conclusion: What Happens Next
Authorities have promised a transparent inquiry into the SZMCH fire, with a formal report expected once technical teams complete their assessment of the operation theatre’s electrical systems. Hospital administration is likely to face questions over maintenance schedules and fire-safety compliance in the coming days. Meanwhile, health officials say routine surgical services at SZMCH are expected to resume normally once the affected theatre is cleared for use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cause of hospital fires?
Hospital fires are most often linked to faults in electrical wiring, overloaded circuits, aging infrastructure, and poorly maintained equipment in high-usage areas such as operating theatres, generator rooms, and oxygen supply lines. Many public hospitals in Pakistan run decades-old electrical systems that were never upgraded to match rising patient loads, which increases the risk of short circuits. Poor ventilation and the presence of flammable medical supplies can also allow small sparks to turn into serious fires within minutes.
How did the Rahim Yar Khan fire start?
Based on preliminary information from fire brigade officials, the fire at Sheikh Zayed Medical College Hospital started in the electrical wiring of an operating theatre while a surgical procedure was underway. The exact trigger point is still being examined by technical teams, but early findings point toward a wiring fault rather than any external factor. A full report is expected once investigators complete their assessment of the affected area.
What was the reason for the fire?
Officials investigating the incident said the blaze was apparently caused by a short circuit within the operation theatre’s electrical system. Authorities have ordered a detailed technical review to confirm this initial assessment and to check whether the hospital’s wiring, fire alarms, and safety equipment met required standards. The district administration has asked hospital management to submit a complete report on the matter.
Was anyone injured in the SZMCH fire?
No injuries or deaths have been reported so far. The patient undergoing surgery at the time was safely shifted out of the theatre, and hospital staff managed to evacuate the area without any casualties, according to officials on the scene.
Has the hospital resumed normal operations?
Hospital authorities say other departments continued functioning normally, and routine surgical services are expected to resume once the affected operating theatre is inspected, repaired, and cleared for use by safety officials.
