In the aftermath of the industrial fire accident at a textile design printing factory on Mysore Road on 1st February evening, five critically injured burn victims were treated at SPARSH Hospital RR Nagar, reinforcing the hospital’s preparedness to manage high-acuity mass-casualty emergencies. The hospital’s strategic location and arterial connectivity enabled timely transfer within the critical golden hour.

The patients, initially given first-line emergency care at a nearby hospital, were transferred to SPARSH Hospital RR Nagar in critical condition. The injuries were severe and involved burns on face, hands, and back, with one patient suffering severe inhalation burns affecting the airway.

Upon receiving the alert, SPARSH Hospital activated its mass-casualty and burn management protocols, mobilizing dedicated ICU beds and assembling a multidisciplinary emergency team within minutes. A rapid capacity assessment confirmed readiness for prolonged intensive care and advanced nutritional and metabolic support – critical for managing severe burns. Upon arrival, patients were rapidly triaged and stabilized, with families counselled on injury severity and next steps.

The clinical response was led by Dr Gunasekar Vuppalapati, Senior Consultant – Plastic Surgery, along with Dr Deepak K L, Senior Consultant – Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. The multidisciplinary team included intensivists, anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, specialized burn nurses, nutrition experts, and physiotherapists. To ensure uninterrupted high-dependency care, 21 trained nurses were deployed in rotational shifts, enabling 1:1 monitoring for the patients.

Over the next five hours, the team delivered coordinated emergency intervention, initiating individualized burn management for each patient. One patient with severe inhalation injury was administered emergency intubation and advanced airway support.
“Severe burns are life-threatening and require immediate, structured intervention,” said Dr Gunasekar Vuppalapati. “Beyond fluid resuscitation, the challenge is preventing a cytokine storm – an extreme immune overreaction that can damage vital organs, along with metabolic collapse, hypothermia, and infection.

The first 48 hours are critical. Our focus was airway stabilization, precise fluid management, temperature control, aggressive wound care, and high-protein nutritional support, delivered through seamless coordination between the surgical, ICU, and nursing team”.Four patients were stabilized and discharged in stable condition. One patient was later shifted to another hospital at the family’s request.

According to Dr Ranjan Shetty, Group Medical Director, SPARSH Hospitals, “Managing multiple critically injured patients simultaneously reflects the strength of institutional preparedness, experienced clinical leadership, and integrated ICU infrastructure. Our response demonstrates sustained investment in advanced protocols and emergency readiness.”

Mr. Jasdeep Singh, Group CEO, SPARSH Hospitals, added “At SPARSH, emergency readiness is built into our operating model. From scalable critical care infrastructure and rapid resource mobilization to standardized mass-casualty protocols across the network, we have invested consistently in systems that enable swift, coordinated action. Our RR Nagar facility reflects the group’s commitment to preparedness, resilience, and patient-first critical care delivery.”

Equipped with surge-ready ICU infrastructure and rapid-response clinical teams, SPARSH Hospital RR Nagar remains prepared to manage high-acuity emergencies with precision and coordination. The response to the industrial fire reflects the institution’s sustained commitment to advanced burn care, integrated critical care systems, and life-saving intervention when it matters most.