Odisha: At least 19 dead in a major fire at Bhubaneswar's SUM hospital

#WATCH: Fire broke out in ICU ward of Institute of Medical Sciences & Sum Hospital, Bhubaneswar.5 fire tenders at the spot. Fire fighting on pic.twitter.com/3iCMVSsQQz

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 17, 2016

The fire broke out at around 7:30 pm due to an electric short circuit in the dialysis ward on the second floor of the hospital. The fire, according to reports, spread out on the entire floor within minutes.

It has also been reported that when the fire broke out there were 7 critical patients on ventilators in the dialysis ward and 11 patients were in the nearby ICU.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed grief for the loss of life and said,"deeply grieved by the hospital fire, have ordered Revenue Divisional commissioner to enquire into this very tragic incident."

"Expenses for treatment of the injured persons in the fire incident to be borne by State Government from CM relief fund," he tweeted.

Expenses for treatment of the injured persons in the fire incident to be borne by State Government from CM relief fund 1/2

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 17, 2016

Spoke to CM @Naveen_Odisha about the distressing hospital fire tragedy. Assured all possible support from the Centre.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also asked the union health minister JP Nadda to facilitate transfer of all the injured to AIIMS.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda was quoted by NDTV saying,"deeply saddened by the fire incident in Institute of Medical 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," Mr Nadda tweeted after the incident.

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

At least seven fire tenders were present to control the fire and over a dozen ambulances deployed to shift the critical patients to other hospitals.