Huge Fire Kills 22 At Hospital In India
MEP: At least 22 people have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a private hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, according to police.
Around 50 others injured in the fire that erupted at Sum Hospital, a leading private healthcare institute, in Bhubaneswar city late on Monday.
“We can confirm 22 deaths in the incident,” Yogesh Khurania, Bhubaneswar police commissioner, told AFP news agency.
About 120 firefighters were mobilised to tackle the blaze, which was later brought under control. PM Narendra Modi said he was “anguished” by the fire.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families,” India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post published on his Twitter account.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2016
Sources said the fire started around 7.30pm in the dialysis ward on the second floor of the hospital. An electrical short circuit in the ward could have sparked the fire, which engulfed the entire floor within minutes, hospital sources said. While seven critical patients with ventilators were admitted in the dialysis ward, 11 patients were present in nearby ICU.
Khurania said initial reports suggested that most of the victims had died due to smoke inhalation, with toxic smoke filling the entire floor of the building and hampering rescue efforts.
