At least 19 people have died and 106 others injured after a fire broke out in a hospital in eastern India.

Quoting local police, BBC reports the fire started in the dialysis ward of the SUM hospital, a private facility in the city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha state.

Dozens of patients were taken to other medical facilities in the city.

About 120 firefighters were mobilized to tackle the blaze, which was later brought under control. 

PM Narendra Modi said he was “anguished” by the fire.

“We suspect the fire occurred due to an electric short circuit in the dialysis ward”, Binoy Behera, a local fire services official, was quoted by the TOI.

Most of the victims reportedly died from smoke inhalation.

“We can confirm 19 deaths in the incident,” Bhubaneswar police commissioner Yogesh Khurania said.

Commissioner Khurania said that many of the injured were in critical condition and the death toll could rise further.

Some frightened patients and hospital employees tried to jump out of the building’s windows but were prevented from doing so by police, reports said.

“Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in the hospital fire in Odisha. The tragedy is mind-numbing. My thoughts are with bereaved families,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Earlier in 2011, 89 people died in a fire that broke out in a hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata.

BDST: 0949 HRS, OCT 18, 2016
NJ/SR