Cuttack, July 3: A temporary fire station has been set up on the SCB Medical College and Hospital campus following the mishap at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences on May 31.

Taking note of the incident in which 100 patients had to be evacuated after the fire broke out at the cardiovascular sciences department, the high court had directed the state government to set up a permanent fire station on the campus on June 2.

The fire station at SCB is equipped with a fire tender, a water-pumping vehicle and will be managed by an officer, seven firemen and a driver.

The team will be on alert round the clock and has been asked to take prompt action in case of any fire mishaps at the state-run hospital.

Similar fire stations have been set up by the Odisha fire services department at VSS Medical College and Hosopital at Burla following high court orders, official sources said.

"It is just a temporary arrangement. There are plans to provide additional 10 firemen, two vehicles, two drivers and other advanced fire-fighting equipment at the temporary unit inside SCB and VSS medical in the next 15 days," said B.B. Das, fire officer (central range).

The temporary fire station on the SCB campus is expected to bridge the gap of response time as, in an emergency, it takes the fire engines nearly seven to 10 minutes to reach the hospital at Mangalabag from the nearest fire station at Buxi Bazar.

Fire officials said that the temporary fire station would also be crucial in effective handling of fire incidents at Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) and Central Red Cross Blood Bank located few metres away from the SCB campus.

Many patients had expressed anguish over poor fire safety measures at SCB after the May 31 incident as the institute had already witnessed similar mishaps in the past.

In August 2012 and 2013, two minor fires broke out in the neuro-surgery department. Again in September 2014, another mishap had happened in the central ICU of the hospital. No casualty was reported in the fire incidents however. SCB officials claimed that steps had already been taken to impart proper fire-fighting training to all the doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff members.

The process of reviewing the existing deficiencies and installation of advanced fire-fighting equipment has already reached final stages.

All the advanced equipment, including centralised fire alarm and extinguishers, are expected to be installed within the next couple of months, said a senior hospital administrator.

"We have sought 7,500sqft for the construction of the proposed permanent fire station on SCB campus. Till we get necessary approvals, the temporary station will remain in service at the location on the campus," Das added.