At least 19 people were killed and around 50 injured in a major fire that broke out at Sum Hospital, a leading private healthcare institute, in Bhubaneswar late on Monday.

According to sources the fire is suspected to have started from the dialysis ward of the hospital, located on the first floor, possibly due to an electrical short circuit, around 7.30 in the evening. From there it spread to the Intensive Care Unit and the medicine wards. While seven critical patients with ventilators were admitted in the dialysis ward, 11 patients were present in nearby ICU.

“Soon after the fire broke out, we shifted patients to a safer place. We also broke open some window panes to prevent suffocation of patients. Our own staffers were engaged in the rescue act,” hospital deputy superintendent Basant Pati said. According to the police some of the frightened patients tried to jump from the second floor.

“Out of panic, some people were attempting to jump to rescue themselves. We prevented them from doing so and rescued them,” a police officer said.

Soon the injured and other patiests were shifted to other hospitals. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) to probe into the incident. Patnaik, who visited the Capital Hospital, where most of the injured were brought in, also inquired about their condition. He declared free treatment for the patients.

A Bronto Skylift has been pressed into service to rescue patients by breaking open door and windows. Around 15 ambulances were also pressed into service to shift the patients out of the hospital.

Calling the tragedy “mind-numbing” and expressing anguish for the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Spoke to Minister @JPNadda & asked him to facilitate transfer of all those injured to AIIMS. Hope the injured recover quickly.”

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

The helpline numbers for Amri hospital is 06746666600, Extension 7082,7030.While the Odisha government has set up a helpline number: 9439991226.