West Bengal hospital fire claims infant, 2 others; CID probe ordered

Besides the new born, the two others who died are women- a nursing staff and a relative of a patient died.

Officials, however, have not confirmed the infant death from the fire or the resulting chaos.

TV footage showed panic scenes of people stampeding in the smoke to get out with babies who were even hurled from atop to escape the blaze that according to initial reports originated from an AC machine of a vacant VIP cabin .

The West Bengal government in the evening directed the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to hold a probe into the fire in the Murshidabad Medical College Hospital  and to ascertain if there was any sabotage behind the incident, officials said.

Besides this, the government has also formed a high-level probe committee, under the chairmanship of state Health & Family Welfare department's principal secretary, to investigate the tragic incident.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for next of kin of the dead.

According to a press note, published by the state government, officials of Fire & Emergency Services, Health Services and police departments will be there in the investigation committee.

Earlier in the afternoon, the fire broke out killing at least three, including a child, and leaving several others injured.

Meanwhile, the government claimed that two persons died in the incident and no child-death was reported.

"Two fire tender engines and local administration brought the fire under control very soon," a government official told IBNS.

"Two persons, including a female attendant and a patient's relative, were killed in the incident and seven others got minor injuries," the official added.

However, the state government already declared a compensation of 2 lakh rupees to the deceased's families.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)

Image: TV grab