Firemen smashed sealed windows to let the smoke out of the the annexe building of AMRI Hospital in Kolkata where a fire raged on Friday as paramedics rushed to revive patients evacuated out of the critical care units.
Thick smoke enveloped the seven-storey building of the hospital after the fire broke out early this morning hindering rescue operations.
With patients trapped in the ICU and ICCU located in the building, 50 patients could be evacuated in trolleys and platform ladders, fire brigade sources said.
As soon as a patient was brought out of the building, families watching in horror rushed to ascertain if they could identify him, according to a PTI correspondent on the scene.
Para medical staff were trying to revive some of the patients evacuated.
Firemen from 25 engines using ladders smashed sealed windows in the facade of the centrally air-conditioned building to let the smoke escape.
It was not known how many patients were trapped inside as rescuers could not access many of the smoke-engulfed floors.
Local residents of Dhakuria area turned out to help the firemen and the Disaster Management Group personnel at the hospital on Gariahat Road South.
{{/usCountry}}Local residents of Dhakuria area turned out to help the firemen and the Disaster Management Group personnel at the hospital on Gariahat Road South.
{{/usCountry}}Urban development minister Firhad Hakim, fire services minister Javed Khan and commissioner of Kolkata police RK Pachnanda were supervising rescue operations.