Dang, December 2:

The eye hospital in Tulsipur caught fire today, damaging property worth Rs 10 million.

According to a hospital source, a technical snag in the generator triggered the fire. Eye examining machine, Scan Machine and two pieces of carometer were damaged in the fire, the hospital said.

Four rooms in the hospital were completely destroyed while 10 other rooms were partially damaged. Ten beds, 150 sets of blankets and bed sheets were burnt, said Shamsher Thapa, administrative officer of the hospital. More details of the damage were yet to be received, he added. Families of two employees, who were living in the two rooms of the hospital, were immediately whisked to safety. The hospital patients were also taken to a safe place. Thapa said regular services of the hospital would resume soon. However, it will take time to resume eye surgeries, he added.

The fire could not be doused in time, as the fire engine in Tulsipur municipality was out of service. Another fire engine was brought from the district headquarters Ghorahi, which is 24 km from Tulsipur. Nepal Army, police and locals helped douse the flames. According to the area police office, the fire was brought under control at around 3 pm. Furious locals surrounded the municipality office, protesting the delay in fire-fighting operations.