22 killed as fire engulfs SUM hospital in Bhubaneswar, many injured

At least 22 people were killed in a major fire that broke out in SUM hospital, a leading private healthcare institute, here on Monday evening, triggering panic among patients and attendants. Several others suffered suffocation-related injuries, police sources said.

“I can confirm we have received eight persons dead from SUM Hospital fire,” said Salil Mohanty, vice-president, AMRI Hospitals where around 40 of the victims were rushed. Fourteen others were received dead at Capital Hospital, the hospital authorities said.

Fire service sources said the fire originated around 7.30 pm in the dialysis ward in the second floor of the hospital. Over 30 patients were present in the ward when the mishap occurred, police sources said.

“We engaged adequate fire tenders and rescue teams. Cause of the fire mishap is being investigated,” DGP (fire services) Binoy Behera told media persons.

Hospital sources said an electric short circuit in the ward sparked the fire, which engulfed the floor in blink of an eye.

“Soon after the fire mishap, we shifted all patients to safer places. We also broke open some windows to prevent suffocation of patients. Our own staffers were engaged to rescue the patients,” said hospital’s deputy superintendent Basant Pati.

Police sources said some patients, who suffered from suffocation, were rushed to Capital Hospital. Their conditions were stated to be normal.

 

SOURCE: PTI