Kolkata hospital fire death toll reaches 73 Filed under ( International News ) by Sara

KOLKATA: At least 73 people were killed when a fire engulfed patients at a hospital Friday in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, with officials accusing staff of abandoning those in their care.

The fire broke out at around 3:00 am (2130 GMT Thursday) when the vast majority of the 160 patients inside the privately-run, five-storey facility were asleep.

The senior vice president of the AMRI hospital, S. Upadhayay, said 73 people had been confirmed dead, including three members of staff.

Fire officials said initial investigations suggested the blaze had started in the basement, with most of the victims suffocating on the thick, acrid smoke that quickly filled the wards on the floors above.

By 9:00 am, the blaze had largely been brought under control, but smoke continued to billow from shattered windows, as firemen struggled to reach those still trapped inside.

A number of immobile patients were evacuated down the side of the building using ropes and pulleys.

It was the second fire in three years at the same facility.

Several hundred angry and distraught relatives gathered outside to follow the rescue operation, with some calling for the hospital management to be arrested.

Fire engines had trouble reaching the hospital, which is surrounded by a network of narrow, winding roads.

Rescued patients and those who managed to escape said they had woken up to find their wards full of acrid smoke.

The hospital has announced compensation of 500,000 rupees ($10,000) for the families of each victim. (AFP)