Fire in private hospital in eastern India kills 14

At least 14 people died on Monday when a fire broke out at a private hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, officials said.

The fire erupted inside the dialysis ward of the SUM hospital’s critical-care unit in the state capital Bhubaneswar, public health officials said.

Ambulances ferried more than 120 patients to other facilities for treatment, officials said while firemen brought the flames under control. Some patients were still in critical condition.

“We are trying our best to save lives,” said Arti Ahuja, principal secretary of Odisha’s health and family welfare department.

She confirmed the death toll of 14 though local news channels said more than 20 people had died.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the tragedy “mind-numbing” and directed the federal health minister to facilitate transfer of those injured to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a group of government hospitals.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire,” Modi said on Twitter.