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| India hospital fire in Calcutta kills dozens | India hospital fire in Calcutta kills dozens |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| At least 89 people have been killed in a fire that broke out in a hospital in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta (Kolkata), officials say. | At least 89 people have been killed in a fire that broke out in a hospital in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta (Kolkata), officials say. |
| Most of the victims were patients who were trapped after the flames spread through the AMRI hospital. | Most of the victims were patients who were trapped after the flames spread through the AMRI hospital. |
| The fire started in the multi-storey hospital's basement, where flammable materials were stored. Firefighters took five hours to control the blaze. | The fire started in the multi-storey hospital's basement, where flammable materials were stored. Firefighters took five hours to control the blaze. |
| Six board members of the hospital have been arrested. | Six board members of the hospital have been arrested. |
| They include hospital co-founders SK Todi and RS Goenka. | They include hospital co-founders SK Todi and RS Goenka. |
| West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the licence of the six-storey hospital in Dhakuria in the southern part of the city had been cancelled. | West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the licence of the six-storey hospital in Dhakuria in the southern part of the city had been cancelled. |
| She said the fire was an "unforgivable crime" and that those responsible would be given the harshest punishment. | She said the fire was an "unforgivable crime" and that those responsible would be given the harshest punishment. |
| A Upadhay, a senior vice-president of the AMRI hospital company, told Associated Press there were 160 patients in the 190-bed hospital. | A Upadhay, a senior vice-president of the AMRI hospital company, told Associated Press there were 160 patients in the 190-bed hospital. |
| A spokesman for Manmohan Singh said the prime minister had "expressed shock and anguish over the loss of lives". | A spokesman for Manmohan Singh said the prime minister had "expressed shock and anguish over the loss of lives". |
| Chaotic scenes | Chaotic scenes |
| Many of the patients who died suffocated on fumes. | Many of the patients who died suffocated on fumes. |
| A number were rescued. "We have taken 50 patients to an adjacent hospital. The situation is grim at the moment," fire brigade chief Gopal Bhattacharya told Agence France-Presse news agency. | A number were rescued. "We have taken 50 patients to an adjacent hospital. The situation is grim at the moment," fire brigade chief Gopal Bhattacharya told Agence France-Presse news agency. |
| Scores of ambulances were carrying patients from the hospital. | Scores of ambulances were carrying patients from the hospital. |
| Thick columns of smoke spread from the building and rescue workers broke windows to let in air. Dead bodies - wrapped in white sheets - were being brought out and taken to the mortuary. | Thick columns of smoke spread from the building and rescue workers broke windows to let in air. Dead bodies - wrapped in white sheets - were being brought out and taken to the mortuary. |
| Soon, hundreds of relatives gathered in front of the hospital - frantically seeking information. | Soon, hundreds of relatives gathered in front of the hospital - frantically seeking information. |
| But hospital authorities had little to give them - they could not say how many had died or who had been brought out. | But hospital authorities had little to give them - they could not say how many had died or who had been brought out. |
| Unable to find their loved ones, many relatives quickly ran out of patience. | Unable to find their loved ones, many relatives quickly ran out of patience. |
| The BBC's Amitabha Bhattasali in Calcutta says bodies of patients wrapped in white sheets have been brought out by rescue workers. | The BBC's Amitabha Bhattasali in Calcutta says bodies of patients wrapped in white sheets have been brought out by rescue workers. |
| Local people climbed into the hospital compound to rescue patients before fire engines arrived, our correspondent says. | Local people climbed into the hospital compound to rescue patients before fire engines arrived, our correspondent says. |
| The narrow surrounding streets made it difficult for the rescue services to arrive quickly. | The narrow surrounding streets made it difficult for the rescue services to arrive quickly. |
| Subrata Mukherjee, state minister for public health engineering, accused senior hospital officials of running away after the fire broke out: "It was horrifying that the hospital authorities did not make any effort to rescue trapped patients." | Subrata Mukherjee, state minister for public health engineering, accused senior hospital officials of running away after the fire broke out: "It was horrifying that the hospital authorities did not make any effort to rescue trapped patients." |
| There were also chaotic scenes when Ms Banerjee arrived. | There were also chaotic scenes when Ms Banerjee arrived. |
| Relatives of patients complained that her convoy had blocked the passage of ambulances in the hospital complex. | Relatives of patients complained that her convoy had blocked the passage of ambulances in the hospital complex. |
| Police resorted to a baton charge as the crowds moved forward to Ms Banerjee's car. | Police resorted to a baton charge as the crowds moved forward to Ms Banerjee's car. |
| "Stop it. What is this? No baton charge! Have you come here to beat up people?" the Times of India newspaper quoted Ms Banerjee as telling the officers. | "Stop it. What is this? No baton charge! Have you come here to beat up people?" the Times of India newspaper quoted Ms Banerjee as telling the officers. |
| Police told AP the six hospital officials arrested were being questioned on charges of culpable homicide and that they had surrendered voluntarily. | Police told AP the six hospital officials arrested were being questioned on charges of culpable homicide and that they had surrendered voluntarily. |
| 'A lot of bodies' | 'A lot of bodies' |
| The fire had spread swiftly from the basement to the upper floors of the private hospital. | The fire had spread swiftly from the basement to the upper floors of the private hospital. |
| One rescued patient said: "The attendants woke me up and dragged me down the stairs. I saw 10-15 patients at the top of the stairs trying to get down." | One rescued patient said: "The attendants woke me up and dragged me down the stairs. I saw 10-15 patients at the top of the stairs trying to get down." |
| Ananya Das, 35, who underwent surgery at the hospital on Thursday, said she was recovering when the fire broke out. | Ananya Das, 35, who underwent surgery at the hospital on Thursday, said she was recovering when the fire broke out. |
| "I managed to walk towards an exit and then climb out of a window. I saw a lot of bodies," she said. | "I managed to walk towards an exit and then climb out of a window. I saw a lot of bodies," she said. |
| One relative, Khokon Chakravathi, told AFP: "My mother is in the intensive care unit. She's 70 years old. I don't know if she is alive or not." | One relative, Khokon Chakravathi, told AFP: "My mother is in the intensive care unit. She's 70 years old. I don't know if she is alive or not." |
| Fires in high-rise buildings are fairly common in the city. There have been at least 10 major incidents since 2008. | Fires in high-rise buildings are fairly common in the city. There have been at least 10 major incidents since 2008. |
| Electrical short circuits have been responsible for most of these fires. | Electrical short circuits have been responsible for most of these fires. |
| More than 40 people died in a huge fire in a historic building in Calcutta in March last year. | More than 40 people died in a huge fire in a historic building in Calcutta in March last year. |