Fire kills 19 patients in Bhubaneswar hospital. (Express Photo)
At least 19 patients died of asphyxiation and several others turned critical after a major fire broke out in ICU and dialysis ward of SUM Hospital-cum-medical college, an upscale hospital on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Monday evening.
WATCH VIDEO: Fire At Bhubaneswar Hospital Kills 19 Patients
According to initial reports 22 people were declared dead by privately-owned AMRI Hospital and government-owned Capital, where the patients were admitted after evacuation. Later, Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi confirmed that 19 people died during the fire. So far 100 are being treated in different hospitals across the city, with most patients admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) to probe into the incident. Patnaik, who visited the Capital Hospital, where most of the injured were brought in, also inquired about their condition. He declared free treatment for the patients.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi asks Health Minister to transfer injured to AIIMS
The fire which reportedly started due to short circuit, started in the dialysis OT in the first floor which subsequently spread to the ICU and other nearby wards around 7 pm. As many as seven fire tending vehicles took more than 2 hours to bring the blaze under control. A Bronto Skylift has been pressed into service to rescue patients by breaking open door and windows. Around 15 ambulances were also pressed into service to shift the patients out of the hospital.
WATCH VIDEO: Bhubaneswar Fire: Fire Victims At Capital Hospital
Expenses for treatment of the injured persons in the fire incident to be borne by State Government from CM relief fund 1/2
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 17, 2016
Ordered Revenue Divisional commissioner to enquire in to this very tragic incident 2/2
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 17, 2016
“All the patients in the ICU and on the ventilator were evacuated. The critical patients have been shifted to Capital hospital and three private hospitals,” said deputy superintendent of SUM Hospital Basant Pati.
Also Read: Bhubaneswar hospital fire: Other tragedies at medical facilities that have taken lives
Chaos reigned in the hospital for almost two hours as hospital authorities and fire service officials tried to evacuate the patients from the wards. Several wards were filled with smoke. Patients and their relatives cried for help as officials struggled to reach out to them. “I had brought my nephew to casualty when the fire broke out. I just don’t know where to take him,” said a middle-aged man. Jyoti Prakash whose father was being treated at the hospital told PTI, “I jumped down from the first floor, where my father was being treated. I do not know what happened to him and other patients.”
Also Read: ‘Deeply anguished by loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha’ — Twitterati react
The state government ordered a probe by Director Medical Education and Training and promised free treatment to all the injured. According to the hospital’s website, SUM has 750 beds, 25 intensive care beds and 150 cabins.
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