Minister Veena George has confirmed that a technical investigation has begun into the recent fire at Kozhikode Medical College. She informed the media that the Electrical Inspectorate is conducting the investigation and that the PWD Electrical Wing has already submitted a preliminary report. A police forensic examination is also underway. The fire was first noticed around 8 PM last night near the Emergency Department.
The minister said that the cause of the fire could be a short circuit or an issue within a battery. The affected unit was an MRI UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) system, which was under warranty until October 2026. Maintenance had been carried out up to six months ago. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined. At the time of the incident, 151 patients were present in the hospital. Currently, 114 are still admitted at MCH, while 37 have been transferred to other hospitals.
A special investigation will be conducted regarding the death that occurred. A team of experts from other medical colleges will lead this inquiry. The post-mortem will reveal the exact cause of death. The block where the fire occurred will take time to return to normal. Wiring and other systems are still being examined, and it may take at least three days to restore the block fully. The minister assured that all efforts are being made to speed up the process.
Regarding the cost of treatment for those transferred to private hospitals, the minister did not give a clear response. She stated that doctors are currently assessing treatment requirements and emphasized that no one will be denied medical care. The issue of bills can be reviewed by the doctors, she added.
