Jabalpur hospital fire: At least 8 dead, several feared trapped; rescue efforts underway

Jabalpur hospital fire: At least eight people died in a massive fire that broke out at a hospital in Jabalpur on Monday afternoon, according to news agency PTI.

The blaze was reported at the New Life Medicity Hospital near Damoh Naka under the Gohalpur police station area. Several people are still feared to be trapped. Several fire brigade teams have reached the spot and are trying to control the blaze. A rescue operation is underway to evacuate patients from the hospital as well.

Jabalpur police control room spokesman Ravindra Singh confirmed the death of eight people and injuries to nine others in the blaze. However, it was not immediately clear if the deceased included patients.

"It was a massive fire, and our teams rescued all the people trapped inside the hospital. A short circuit could be the reason for the fire," Akhilesh Gaur, CSP Jabalpur, told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: Fire breaks out at Jabalpur Hospital. Further details awaited pic.twitter.com/RdjjqARKIY

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) August 1, 2022

Prima facie, it appears that a short circuit caused the blaze at the hospital. However, the exact reason behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed anguish over the incident and said that he is in constant touch with the local administration and collector.

"The Chief Secretary has been directed to keep an eye on the entire matter. Every effort is being made for relief and rescue," he tweeted.

Chouhan has also announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of victims.