Bhubaneswar: At least 23 people were killed in a devastating blaze that broke out at SUM Hospital, a private healthcare centre in the city, Monday evening. Over 100 others were left injured, many of them critical.
The fire started in the dialysis ward of SUM Hospital at around 7.30 pm, said sources. The fire and smoke then spread to the emergency ward and the ICU on the first floor of the hospital, they added.
Commissioner of Police YB Khurania confirmed that at least 19 people perished in the blaze, though unofficial sources put the toll at 23. Sources said the toll may further go up as many of the injured being treated at different hospitals were in critical conditions.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who visited Capital Hospital late at night to inquire into the care being given to the injured patients, ordered an RDC-level probe into the fire. The CM also directed all hospitals in the state to render free treatment to the patients affected by the fire.
Patnaik later tweeted that he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation and briefed him about treatment of the injured people. “Senior ministers and officials are monitoring,” added the CM. Soon after the fire, the health department formed a joint enquiry committee to find out the cause of the mishap. Although the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, preliminary reports blamed it on an electric short circuit.
Minutes after news of the mishap spread, the twin-city police commissioner, DCP and other senior police officials rushed to SUM Hospital along with the fire brigade. Seven fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze. A Bronto skylift fire tender was also pushed into service to reach higher places in the multi-storied hospital.
DG (fire services) Binay Behera said fire service personnel doused the blaze after a two-and-a-half hour’s struggle and conducted the rescue operation on a war-footing.
Chaos prevailed outside SUM Hospital as panic gripped attendants and relatives of patients who scurried to safer places. Several patients reportedly suffered from asphyxiation due to the smoke swirling on the premises. Over 150 patients, including 18 from the ICU, were rescued. Several patients were taken out by breaking glass panes of the hospital, said sources.
As many as 60 ambulances including thirteen 108 ambulances were pressed into service to shift patients to safer places. SUM Hospital deputy superintendent Basant Pati said all patients from the ICU were shifted to other hospitals.
Critical patients were shifted to Capital Hospital and three private hospitals. Nine patients were also shifted to AIIMS. The fire was brought under control by 10 pm, said the authorities. “It will be difficult to assess the situation at present,” said Behera. Sources said the fire tenders arrived at the hospital more than 20 minutes after the fire started. Health secretary Arti Ahuja spoke to the ADG (fire services) on this matter.
“An enquiry committee comprising director of medical education and training, the Khurda district collector and fire safety officers will jointly enquire into all aspects of the mishap,” said a senior health department official. “The authorities of Capital Hospital and SCB Medical College and Hospital have been on alert and asked to take care of patients being shifted to those hospitals,” added the official. The Capital Hospital has opened a helpline number 9439991226 for information about patients. AMRI has also announced a toll-free number 0674-6666600.
Notably, fire officials had visited this hospital in 2012-13 and reportedly instructed authorities to comply with fire safety norms. Meanwhile, three officials of SUM have been suspended, according to sources.
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