Hospital fire in Kolkata kills 89, industrialist owner arrested

Medical staff at the AMRI hospital – one of Kolkata’s top medical facilities – abandoned their patients and fled for safety early Friday as fire and smoke poured through the building, leaving 89 people dead, many from smoke inhalation, officials said.Six people, including industrialist S K Todi of the AMRI group were arrested and the licence of the hospital cancelled.“As per my announcement that offenders will be arrested, six people, including S K Todi, have been arrested,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters. “Law will take its own course. Those responsible for so many deaths, will be dealt with seriously,” she said.She said a high-level committee, with representatives from police, fire brigade, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and health department, has been formed to go into the cause of the fire.

As rescuers scrambled to evacuate survivors, police filed a case against the hospital for violating safety procedures. Top government officials vowed to hold the hospital accountable for the tragedy, and began proceedings to cancel its license.

“It’s a very serious offence, and we will take the strongest action,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the scene.Banerjee said the fire services authorities and the police had cautioned the AMRI Hospital authorities in September about its basement. “AMRI had given an undertaking, but did not keep it,” she said.

Later in the day, owners of the hospital R S Goenka and S K Todi presented themselves before the police and were extensively questioned before the arrest.