At least 23 patients died and several were injured after a fire broke out in the dialysis ward and adjoining intensive care unit of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital on Monday evening.
The death toll is expected to rise as more patients were shifted to nearby hospitals in critical conditions. The Capital Hospital confirmed that 15 patients were received dead while at AMRI, eight patients were brought dead.
Vice president of AMRI Hospitals Dr SK Mohanty said, as many as 30 more were admitted to the hospital in a critical state while five patients were receiving treatment at Capital Hospital. As many as 45 patients were admitted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
More patients were rushed to Apollo Hospital as well as SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
The Odisha Government constituted a three-member panel comprising Khurda Collector, Director, Medical Education and Training and District Fire Officer to probe into the incident which is believed to have been caused by a short-circuit.
Eyewitnesses said that the smoke emanating from the fire led to asphyxiation of the patients and their attendants, a number of them being women.
The fire engulfed the dialysis ward of the hospital and the medicine ICU at about 7.30 pm. Chaos reigned supreme as panic-struck patients, their attendants as well as hospital staff ran for their lives as a thick plume of smoke prevented rescue operation as well as evacuation.
At least seven fire tenders, 16 108 ambulances and as many PCR vans were pressed at the spot to mobilise rescue operation. The hospital staff also joined them in evacuating the patients.
Initial reports said, nine patients were shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar while 38 were moved to AMRI Hospital. Fifteen more were shifted to Capital Hospital.
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DG (Fire Services) Binoy Behera said, the fire tenders from Bhubaneswar and personnel were pressed to bring the flames under control. “Rescuing the patients and those present in the hospital is our priority. We are yet to assess the damage and ascertain source of the fire,” Behera said. As many as 100 fire fighters had been deployed into the fire control and rescue job.
The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force was also mobilised to the hospital to help the rescue exercise while Collector Niranjan Sahu, Police Commissioner YB Khurania Bhoi were at the spot to coordinate the operation.
The fire was spotted in the dialysis ward which is located on the first floor of the hospital and quickly spread to the ICU. Since the intensive care divisions are closed, the smoke generated by the fire could not be released blocking visibility which initially affected evacuation of the patients.