LAHORE: The Services Hospital administration closed down the Diabetic Management Centre for some days shortly after a fire gutted furniture, office record and other valuables here on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning when many patients were under treatment and attendants were waiting at the most visited centre of the government hospital.

The witnesses said the fire spread so fast that the patient were immediately rescued and shifted to the other portion of the hospital to save their lives. They said the dense smoke, followed by flames also sent a wave of panic among the patients getting treatment in other units of the hospital.

A stampede-like situation was reported at the hospital, prompting the management to call the police and the Rescue 1122 to launch operation.

The hospital administration claimed that the electricity supply at the centre sparked suddenly which later led to fire.

The Rescue 1122 staff, however, managed to control the blaze after efforts of a couple of hours, a police official said adding that no injury was reported to any visitor or patient.

The institute`s management constituted an eight-member committee to probe the incident.

A senior medical teacher and head of the medical unit lll Prof Mohammad Arif Nadeem has been made convener of the committee.

It was directed to submit a report within 24 hours of the incident. The centre will be made functional after repair, the hospital administration said.-Staff Reporter