At least 22 patients died and around 12 others were injured in a fire that broke out at the Sum Hospital here this evening, in one of the worst such incidents involving a medical facility
Rescue workers at the Sum Hospital. Pic/PTI
Rescue workers at the Sum Hospital. Pic/PTI
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Bhubaneswar: At least 22 patients died and around 12 others were injured in a fire that broke out at the Sum Hospital here this evening, in one of the worst such incidents involving a medical facility.
The blaze was suspected to have been triggered by an electric short circuit in the dialysis ward on the first floor of the private hospital, which spread to the nearby Intensive Care Unit.
“So far we have received some ‘brought dead’ people at the Capital Hospital. However, I cannot exactly say the number of persons who have died in the incident,” Health Secretary Arati Ahuja said.
However, the Capital Hospital Superintendent Binod Kumar Mishra said, “We have received nine dead bodies, while five others are in very critical condition. The toll may increase.” Meanwhile, Amri Hospital (Bhubaneswar) unit head
Dr Salil Kumar Mohanty said, “A total of 37 patients were received at our casualty ward. Our doctors have declared eight persons as brought dead.”
“Most of the victims were in the first floor ICU of the ill-fated Sum Hospital,” said a doctor at the Capital Hospital.