India, June 7 -- A fire caused by an abandoned vehicle inside the premises of one of Mumbai's oldest public hospitals has exposed a major safety lapse, with an internal report warning that unchecked parking and derelict vehicles at St George's Hospital are "seriously undermining" the safety of residents, patients and visitors and could trigger a larger disaster in the future.

The 450-bed St George's Hospital near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) found itself at the centre of concern after an abandoned car caught fire on May 29. An internal report accessed by HT described the incident as a "disaster in the making" and warned that similar fires could break out again unless abandoned vehicles and unauthorised parking within the c...