73 killed in Kolkata hospital fire

9 December 2011 06:24 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

KOLKATA: The death toll at the Amri (Dhakuria) Hospital has risen to 73. The multi-storeyed private hospital, turned into a towering inferno in the wee hours of the morning.

The fire spread fast from the basement of the hospital, engulfing one ward after the other. While many patients died of burns, most died due to suffocation caused by carbon monoxide accumulation all over the building. About 50 bodies have been sent to the SSKM Hospital where post mortem has already been conducted on 42 bodies.

The worst affected were the ICU patients who did not die of burns but due to asphyxiation. Experts have said that since the hospital building is surrounded by a glass facade, the accumulated gas could not escape causing so many deaths. Had there been an escape route for the gas, many deaths could have been prevented.

Till late in the day the hospital looked like a morgue as bodies lay in rows, waiting to be sent to the SSKM Hospital for post mortem. Wails of relatives filled the air as they helplessly went looking among the bodies trying to identify their loved ones. Some sat staring at the bodies, while some repeatedly tried to wake them up from their everlasting sleep.

The fire brigade was seen rescuing some bodies from the upper storeys. These bodies were tied up in ropes and sent down in pulleys. A large number of relatives of patients, who were still reported to be alive and sent to other hospitals of the city, complained that they were getting confusing information about where their patients have been sent.

The state government has brought criminal charges against the hospital authorities. Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, who was at both Amri and SSKM Hospital since the morning, organised for the rescue of the bodies and ensured that they were sent to SSKM speedily for post mortem.

The hospital authorities remained elusive for a long time. Later, a senior official, Satyabrata Upadhyay, announced the list of names of the deceased and the living who have been shifted to different hospitals. The hospital has announced a compensation of rupees five lakhs to families of the deceased. In addition to this the centre and the state governments have also announced separate compensation packages. (Source: Times of India)

Comments - 6

srilankan Friday, 09 December 2011 07:18 AM

what a sad story. May they attain nibbana

rifaq Friday, 09 December 2011 10:56 AM

so sad and these kind of authorities should be punished

rumi Friday, 09 December 2011 10:56 AM

state govt should take responsibility for failure in implementing safety measures. my condolences for families affected.

MAY GOD BLESS THEM.

Sammy Friday, 09 December 2011 12:45 PM

It is such a shame that basic precautionary fire related facilities were not available in a modern hospital. It is always a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, in our part of the world.

Ajith Saturday, 10 December 2011 05:36 AM

People go to hospital to get cured not to get killed..Hospital Authorities should be prepared for disaster like this, there should be strict standards enforced to avert these kind of disasters.. Hope Sri Lankan authorities are learning lessons from this... Our deepest sympathies to friends and families who lost their loved ones...

Upul Friday, 09 December 2011 03:27 PM

A question for our authorities... Are all the hospitals here are hazard free? Now I fear being unconscious in a hospital!

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

73 killed in Kolkata hospital fire

Comments - 6

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

Focus on Laggala Gem mining big shots bigger than the law

How and why the TNA was formed twenty years ago

India lays emphasis on culture diplomacy with Sri Lanka

Bittersweet memories of a ‘City that never slept’

Revisiting the Attack on Thirukumar Nadesan in India

Spotlight on Attorney General’s Department and Public Service Commission

How a 19-year-old TikToker is helping bring back the Woolly Mammoth!

Most Viewed in News

Ven. Gnanasara Thera to head Presidential Task Force for ’’One Country, One Law’’ concept

Mahela to leave SL team after today’s game

Veteran actress Vishaka Siriwardana passes away

Govt. approves cattle slaughter ban

Sri Lanka denies allegations over participation at Dubai EXPO

Stop gatherings as Sri Lanka goes on alert over Delta Plus

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Outrage over post given to controversial monk

SL maintains balance between environment and human needs

Discussions in making vaccine cards mandatory underway: Health Ministry

SJB will not allow anyone to make SL a playing field in geopolitics

MIRROR CRICKET

England take early T20I series lead over Sri Lanka

New Zealand clinch World Test title

LPL 2nd edition from July 30-August 22-SLC

Sanath Jayasuriya signs as coach at Melbourne cricket club Mulgrave

Warner hits 65 as Australia thrash Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup

Clinical England thrash Bangladesh in T20 World Cup

SLC stance unchanged on cricketers taking a knee

Dialog in staggering deal to sponsor AR7’s