BHUBANESWAR, October 17 (agencies): Twenty-two people were killed in a fire that swept the dialysis ward of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar and engulfed the intensive care unit. With the fire growing out of control, utter chaos reigned in the hospital’s wards as panic-stricken patients, attendants and hospital staff ran for their lives as smoke spread to the intensive care unit[ICU], hampering the rescue operation. Reports said 22 persons person died in the fire, which had grown beyond control. At least five fire tenders, ten ambulances and as many PCR vans were rushed to the spot for the rescue operation. Nine patients were shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar while 31 others were moved to different private hospitals in the city. Till reports last came in, 40 patients had been rescued from the dialysis ward and the adjoining ICU. The fire was first spotted in the dialysis ward located on the second floor of the hospital and quickly spread to the ICU. Since the intensive care divisions are closed, the smoke generated by the fire could not be released blocking visibility which initially affected evacuation of patients. Director-general of the fire services Binoy Behera said fire tenders from Bhubaneswar and personnel were pressed to bring the flames under control. “Rescuing the patients and those present in the hospital is our priority. We are yet to assess the damage and ascertain the source of the fire,” Behera said. As many as 100 fire fighters have been deployed. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force was also mobilised to help the rescue exercise while Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi was also camping at the spot to coordinate the operation. The Odisha government has constituted a three-member committee to probe the SUM hospital fire. The team comprises the collector of Khurda, the director of Medical Education and Training (DMET) and the district fire officer.
