At least two people have died and more than 50 injured after a fire broke out at a government hospital in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. "Two women, both nursing aides, died in the stampede following the incident of fire which broke out at 11.50 am at the hospital. Some others are injured, but we are yet to receive details," Director of Health Services Biswaranjan Satpathy said in Kolkata. According to reports an AC unit was the source of the fire. Soon after the fire broke out, patients were seen coming out of the hospital while some infants were taken out of the hospital ward. The fire broke at the male surgical ward on the first floor of the hospital, a source told media, adding that short circuit is believed to be the reason behind the incident.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the incident. The fire was contained after almost three hours. Many patients are lying in the open with relatives holding saline bottles; some have been put up in in other wards.  A departmental inquiry has already been ordered to probe the incident, Satpathy said, adding the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of the hospital Subhasis Saha was monitoring the situation, while a special medical team from Malda has already rushed to the spot for assistance.