SURAT: At least 12 patients and their relatives in the kidney dialysis centre of New Civil Hopistal (NCH) were rescued on Friday afternoon following a fire incident due to short circuit.

Official sources said one of the dialysis equipment in the department caught fire due to short circuit and at least 12 patients and their relatives were stuck inside the smoke filled room.

The fire and emergency service department rescued the victims.

Chief fire officer Pankaj Patel told TOI, "It is unfortunate that a government hospital is lacking in fire safety provisions. The dialysis department didn't have a fire extinguisher even for emergency use. We have asked the hospital authorities to comply with the fire safety and protection norms."

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