A fire broke out in a room of a ward of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Monday, creating panic among patients and relatives.

Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost, said the fire broke out at the veranda of the 310 ward adjacent to the cabin block, around 5 pm.

At first smoke was seen billowing from the room, where the nurses used to change their dresses, said duty nurse Nasrin Akter.

Being panicked, the patients managed to come down safely.

On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot but the local people doused the flame before they came,

Some important goods, oxygen cylinders and a bed were kept in the room.

However, what caused the fire could not be known immediately.

Earlier, on February 5, a 60-year old patient identified as Jasim Uddin, with respiratory problems died while trying to escape as a fire broke out at DMCH.