At least 23 people died and around 50 were injured due to a major fire that broke out at the ICU of the Institute of Medical Sciences and S.U.M Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday evening.
While seven critical patients with ventilators were admitted in the dialysis ward, 11 patients were present in nearby ICU.
The affected patients were moved to other hospitals in the city. AMRI Hospital reported eight dead, while the rest of those who suffered burns were shifted to Capital Hospital.
“A number of patients were present in the ward when the fire broke out,” a police officer said.
Ten fire tenders were deployed to bring the blaze under control. “The cause of the fire is being investigated,” DGP (fire services) Binoy Behera said.
Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik visited Sum Hospital and took stock of the situation. He also ordered Revenue Divisional Commissioner level probe into the mishap.
I am deeply grieved by the hospital fire, the Odisha CM tweeted.
Odisha Health Secretary Arti Ahuja has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident. The health department has formed an inquiry committee consisting of the State Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET), Fire Safety Officer and Khurdha Collector as its members. A committee to inquire into the cause of the fire and whether there was any lapse on the part of the hospital authorities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Odisha CM and assured all help in dealing with the tragedy. He expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the incident.
Three officials of the Sum Hospital, including the manager have been suspended. The other two are the hospital’s electrical and fire officers.
Odisha Fire services DGP Binoy Behera has ordered a fire safety audit of all the hospitals in the state.
This is the second such incident in the state within six months. On May 31, a fire broke out at the state-run SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack. Over 100 patients had a fortunate escape when the cardiology department caught fire.
Sourced from agencies, featured image courtesy: India
