Editorial
A terrible tragedy
We condole the deaths in Kolkata
THE Kolkata hospital fire has left us shell shocked. Needless to say, it has been a human tragedy of appalling proportions. At least 90 people, including a Bangladeshi, were killed at Amri Hospital in the congested Dhakuria locality of South Kolkata. The fire broke out at 3:00 am, when the 160 patients admitted at the hospital were asleep.
Fleeing from the scene and failing to alert the fire services department in a timely manner spoke of the callous manner in which the hospital authorities handled the situation. The fire services did not arrive until three hours later at the scene, that too after the local police station reported the fire to them.
The blaze originated in the basement, originally designed as a car park but which was being used as a storage area for combustible material. The thick, poisonous gas passed through the air-condition ducts choking the patients of the wards to their demise.
Young men from local slums launched the first rescue effort. Regrettably, they were driven away by the hospital guards until much later when they made their way in by smashing windows to ease the fire pressure and helping trapped patients to safety by hand.
The ghastly scene of immobilised patients being evacuated using ropes and pulleys left the aggrieved relatives traumatised and clashes with the authorities were reported.
Despite Kolkata authorities' reminders not to overlook breaches of safety or building regulations, nothing was done to prevent it. Though punitive action is underway, the loss of lives is irreparable. Indeed, our heart goes out in sympathy for the bereaved families. We wish speedy recovery of the wounded as we convey our grief to the people of neighbouring West Bengal.
There are certainly lessons to be learnt, especially in Bangladesh where sudden outbreaks of big fires are not so uncommon a reality.
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