Kolkata: At least 250 patients were evacuated after a  fire broke out at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday morning. Ten fire tenders have been rushed to the spot to douse the flames. No casualty has been reported as of now and the evacuated patients were shifted to to different blocks.

Sources said around 7.58 am, the fire fire broke out at the pharmacy and smoke engulfed the building and patients and other people  
According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out the pharmacy at this morning. Smoke engulfed the building and the patients and some relatives reportedly jumped out of windows to save themselves. While some are being moved to different blocks of the hospital, others could be seen lying on the floor. 

Sources added that around 57 patients were admitted to the cardiology department on the first floor of the building were shifted to the emergency ward. Most patients were recently operated and were critical. Some of the patients were brought out on stretchers with their saline drips, most of them could be seen lying outside without any assistance. The oxygen cylinders kept in the storeroom close to the pharmacy are being shifted to another department.

Earlier this month, a massive fire broke out at Bagree market on Canning Street. Over 60 firefighters took two days to contain the fire. No casualty was reported, but goods estimated to be worth crores was destroyed. Several shops in the market, which is considered as one of the country’s largest wholesale hubs, were gutted.

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Fire Minister and Mayor Sovan Chatterjee reached the spot to take a stock of the situation. “The patients have been successfully evacuated and there are no casualties. The fire is confined to the ground floor,” Chatterjee said.

Sources said the hospital authorities have initiated a probe to know the exact cause of the fire and other lapses.

(With agency inputs)