Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik ordered an investigation into the incident.
At least 22 people died and more than 30 people were seriously injured when a fire broke out at a private hospital in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Monday night.
The fire, suspected to have started around 7.30 pm from a short circuit in the dialysis ward, spread quickly through the second floor of the SMU Medical College Hospital in Bhubaneswar, trapping people inside. The main victims of the fire were patients, many of whom were being treated in intensive care unit and dialysis ward of the hospital.
The carbon monoxide gas from the fire travelled through the air-conditioner ducts to the ICU and dialysis wards quickly asphyxiating the helpless patients.
“The air-conditioner ducts turned the hospital into death zone as they helped travel the poisonous gas,” The Indian Express quoted a hospital staff.
According to officials, 14 patients were ‘brought dead’ at the Capital Hospital, and eight more to the AMRI Hospital.
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik ordered an investigation into the incident and Revenue divisional commissioner AB Ota confirmed that the inquiry order would be filed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences through twitter.
“Spoke to CM Naveen Patnaik about the distressing hospital fire tragedy. Assured all possible support from the Centre. (Also) spoke to (Union health) minister JP Nadda and asked him to fecilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. Hope the injured recover quickly,” he tweeted.