KOLKATA — 2011 · Major Tragedy
AMRI Hospital Fire
In the early hours of 9 December 2011, a fire that started in the basement of the private AMRI Hospital in Kolkata's Dhakuria district sent smoke through the central air-conditioning ducts of the seven-storey building. The glass-fronted structure could not vent the smoke; most of those who died were bedridden patients, largely from asphyxiation. Sources put the toll between 89 and 93. Investigators found that flammable materials had been stored in the basement in breach of rules, and that the hospital had been slow to alert the fire brigade and to evacuate. Hospital directors were investigated, and the fire became a turning point for hospital fire safety in India.
- Date
- 2011
- Place
- Dhakuria, West Bengal, India, Kolkata, IN
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 22.5130, 88.3690 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 9 December 2011Smoke from a basement fire spread through the whole building.
- 10 December 2011Hospital directors were detained and the licence was suspended.
- 2017Academic reviews documented the fire-safety failures.
Sources
- EPW — The Fire at AMRI epw.in ↗
- Indian Journal of Medical Ethics — Fire in a hospital ijme.in ↗
- The Tribune — Special coverage (10 Dec 2011) tribuneindia.com ↗
- Economic & Political Weekly
- Indian Journal of Medical Ethics
- The Tribune
Source grade B: at least one verifiable linked source. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.