Odisha hospital fire: Deeply anguished by the loss of lives, says PM Modi

At least 17 patients died in a fire that broke out at the Sum Hospital in Odisha.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives due to major fire that broke out in an Odisha hospital.

"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families," he tweeted.

The PM added, "Spoke to Jagat Prakash Nadda (Health Minister) and asked him to facilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. Hope the injured recover quickly."

In another tweet he wrote, "Also spoken to Dharmendra Pradhan (Oil Minister) and asked him to ensure all possible help to the injured and affected."

More than 15 patients are reported to have died in the fire at Sum Hospital in Bhubaneswar 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.

The fire, which was said to have started from the dialysis ward on the first floor, quickly spread to other areas including the ICU on the same floor of the four-storeyed hospital building, as per PTI.

Many patients were rescued by breaking window panes, an eyewitness said.

In 2011, a major blaze had engulfed AMRI Hospital in Kolkata, killing 89 people, including 85 patients.

(With Agency inputs)