An ambulance caught fire on the 250-bed Bagerhat District Hospital premises on Tuesday, leaving its driver injured and nine motorcycles burnt.

Eight patients and their relatives were also injured amid chaos during the fire, hospital authorities said.

The injured driver, Farid Hossain, 68, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition after being given first aid at the hospital.

Dr Asim Kumar Samadder, superintendent of the hospital, said the ambulance was standing in front of the main gate of the Old Building of the hospital as it was scheduled to take two children, including one suffering from pneumonia, to Dhaka for treatment.

Around 12:30pm, it suddenly caught fire.

The fire quickly spread to nearby motorcycles, burning the ambulance and nine motorcycles and leaving the driver injured.

The thick smoke from the fire entered around 20 rooms on the first and second floors of the hospital, causing damage to electrical and water lines, WiFi connections and parts of the building.

Eight patients and their relatives were also injured amid the chaos.

Bagerhat Fire and Civil Defence Senior Station Officer Sheikh Mamun R Rashid said firefighters rushed to the hospital after receiving information and brought the fire under control in about 20 minutes.

Following the incident, Bagerhat-2 MP Shaikh Monzurul Haque Rahad, Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten, Superintendent of Police Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabder and Civil Surgeon Dr ASM Mahbubul Alam visited the scene.

Meanwhile, police started removing the unfit ambulances parked on the hospital premises to Bagerhat District Police Lines.

SP Naser said no ambulance without a valid fitness certificate will be allowed to operate in the district.

DC Baten said a five-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days.