A fire broke out at the divisional railway hospital in the Malda division of Eastern Railway here on Wednesday.

Sources said at around 12.30 pm, thick coils of smoke were seen emanating from room number four of the outpatient department (OPD). The incident left the patients and their relatives panicked, who hurriedly walked out of the hospital.

The railway employees and the hospital staff acted promptly and evacuated the OPD. They then used fire extinguishers to douse the blaze and information was passed to the local fire station.

Later, sources said, the blaze is suspected to have occurred from an air-conditioner in the OPD. Employees of the electrical department also reached the hospital and switched off the power connection to prevent the fire from spreading.

A fire engine reached the spot within 15 minutes but by then, the fire was controlled.

After about an hour, the situation returned to normal. The railways have initiated a probe to ascertain the cause of the fire. The electrical wiring and equipment would be examined in the entire health establishment, said sources.