Prime Minister Narendra Modi has voiced “deep anguish” at the loss of lives in a massive blaze at a hospital in Odisha hospital, calling it “mind-numbing”. The fire is reported to have killed more than 20 people.
“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families,” Modi said on microblogging website twitter.
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
“Spoke to Minister @JPNadda (Health Minister) & asked him to facilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. Hope the injured recover quickly.
Spoke to Minister @JPNadda & asked him to facilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. Hope the injured recover quickly.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2016
“Also spoken to Minister @dpradhanbjp and asked him to ensure all possible help to the injured and affected,” he said in a series of tweets.
Also spoken to Minister @dpradhanbjp and asked him to ensure all possible help to the injured and affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2016
More than 20 patients were killed after a major fire broke out at the Sum Hospital here this evening, a police officer said.
The fire, suspected to have originated from the dialysis ward on the first floor, quickly spread to other areas,including the ICU on the same floor, of the four-storey hospital building.
The commissionerate of police and fire brigade personnel along with volunteers and hospital staff launched a massive rescue operation as more than 500 in-door patients were trapped in the fire, a hospital source said.
At least seven fire tenders were pressed into service to control the blaze and over a dozen ambulances had been deployed to shift the critical patients to other hospitals.
Many patients were rescued by breaking window panes, said an eye witnesses.
“We have launched the fire fighting as well as rescue operation in a big way. The personnel of three fire stations of Bhubaneswar were engaged in the operation,” Director General, Fire Service, B Behera said.
Though the fire was suspected to have erupted due to an electric short circuit, the exact reason would be ascertained after a thorough probe, he said.
“I jumped down from the first floor where my father is being treated. I do not know what happened to my father and other patients,” said Jyoti Prakash, adding that he could not proceed due to thick smoke.
(With PTI inputs)
