At least 40 people were killed in a massive fire that broke out at the AMRI hospital at Dhakuria in south Kolkata early on Friday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said. Banerjee said that it was "an unforgivable crime" and vowed "the harshest punishment possible" for those found responsible.
"Forty bodies have been taken to the (state-run) SSKM Hospital," Banerjee told reporters at the spot.
"Quick action will be taken against the hospital after proper inquiry," she added.
The fire which was suspected to have originated in the electrical department in the basement of the centrally air-conditioned building swiftly spread, with the third floor and above being affected the most, fire brigade sources said.
The fire brigade despatched 25 fire engines, which took time to reach the smoke-engulfed building because of narrow approach roads, West Bengal urban development minister Firhad Hakim said.
Firemen using ladders smashed window panes in the facade to rescue patients trapped inside the ICU, ICCU, ITU and Critical Care units.
Fire services minister Javed Khan said the fire spread because of stocks of highly combustible material and it was still not under control.
The hospital also did not have proper fire-fighting equipment, he said.
Fire brigade sources said that firemen were trying to locate oxygen cylinders stocked on the floors, as the fire could make them explode.
Thick smoke was hindering the operations, they said.
Commissioner of Kolkata Police RK Pachnanda too rushed to the spot and panicked families of patients thronged the premises.
Personnel of the Disaster Management Group reached the scene and were assisting in the operations.
India | Updated Dec 09, 2011 at 11:42am IST
Kolkata fire: 40 dead, hospital authorities flee
Click to play video Kolkata: Forty people are confirmed dead due to suffocation in a major fire that broke out at AMRI Hospital in Dhakuria in south Kolkata on Friday. West Bengal Health Minister Sudip Bandhyopadhyay said that the death toll may go up. There was still no clarity on what caused the fire.
Bandhyopadhyay said that the West Bengal Government was shocked to know that the fire safety measures were not in place in the hospital.
What was even more shocking was that while the rescue operations were still on, the hospital authorities reportedly fled from the spot. West Bengal Planning and Development Minister Subroto Mukherjee said that the hospital authorities have fled. "Strict action will be taken against the management, but for now the focus is on the rescue missions," he said.
The angry relatives of the patients who died alleged that the hospital staff abandoned patients and did not help them rush out. They said that this resulted in suffocation, and therefore, deaths of the patients.
Upset and angry relatives destroyed hospital property shouting slogans against authorities for not having enough fire safety measures. The fire had also engulfed the ICU and relatives claim that they were the ones who rescued most patients and that help arrived much later. A few of them also heckled officials at the spot.
Reports said many bodies were moved to SSKM hospital. The identification of bodies was on but sources said some of the bodies may not be identified as they were charred.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. She has ordered an FIR against the hospital.
Many people were, however, still believed to be trapped inside. The fire was under control. Nearly 25 fire tenders were working hard to evacuate all patients and staff.
"The fire engulfed four floors of one of the buildings of the AMRI hospital in Dhakuria," an officer manning the city police control room told IANS over phone.
The 161-bed hospital is located in Dhakuria in Kolkata.
Firemen using ladders smashed window panes in the facade to rescue patients trapped inside the ICU, ICCU, ITU and Critical Care units.
Fire Services Minister Javed Khan said the fire spread because of stocks of highly combustible material.
The hospital also did not have proper fire-fighting equipment, he said.
Fire brigade sources said that firemen were trying to locate oxygen cylinders stocked on the floors, as the fire could make them explode.
Thick smoke was hindering the operations, they said.
AMRI helpline numbers: 9831225067, 9932215296 and 9831225067
(With additional information from IANS and PTI)
The location of AMRI hospital in Dhakuria:
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