At least 22 persons died and 120 others injured after a devastating fire broke out at SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar.

According to the officials, while 14 patients were received “brought dead” at the Capital Hospital, eight were “brought dead” to AMRI Hospital from the fire-struck private medical facility.

“We have received 14 dead bodies, while five other patients have been shifted from Sum Hospital,” the Capital Hospital superintendent Binod Kumar Mishra said.

Meanwhile, AMRI Hospital (Bhubaneswar) unit head Salil Kumar Mohanty said that, “A total of 37 patients were received at our casualty ward. Our doctors have declared eight persons as brought dead.”

“Most of the victims were in the first floor ICU of the ill-fated SUM Hospital,” a doctor at the Capital Hospital said.

Voicing “serious” concern over the fire incident at the SUM Hospital, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the mishap as “very tragic“.

Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister, said that, “We have kept doctors on alert in both government and private hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. We have appealed to every hospital to receive serious patients coming from SUM Hospital.”

“In an attempt to prevent suffocation from causing further damage, glass windows were immediately shattered by our volunteers and medical staff to make way for fresh air. Besides, critical patients were promptly evacuated,” Paresh Das, director of public relations of SOA University said.

The Hindu reported, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said that, “Deeply saddened by the fire incident in Inst. of Medi Sciences & SUM hospital Bhubaneswar. My condolences rest with the bereaved families.”

“I have spoken to Director, AIIMS Bhubaneswar to provide all necessary support and help the patients in the best way possible,” Dr. Nadda tweeted after the incident.

He said that the Union Health secretary C.K. Mishra has already spoken to Odisha Health department officials and was in “constant touch” with them.

“Union Health Secretary has spoken to the Principal Secy Health, Orissa. Officials of @MoHFW_INDIA are in constant touch with state officials,” he said in his tweet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced “deep anguish” at the loss of lives in a massive blaze at a hospital in Bhubaneshwar, calling it “mind-numbing“.

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

“Spoke to Minister @JPNadda (Health Minister) & asked him to facilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. Hope the injured recover quickly.”

“Also spoken to Minister @dpradhanbjp and asked him to ensure all possible help to the injured and affected,” he said in a series of tweets.

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Nandini