India: Death toll from hospital fire rises to 73
Medical staff at an Indian hospital abandoned their patients and fled for safety early Friday as fire and smoke poured through the building, leaving 73 people dead, many from smoke inhalation, officials said.
As rescuers scrambled to evacuate survivors, police filed a case against the hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata for violating safety procedures. Top government officials vowed to hold the hospital accountable for the tragedy, and began proceedings to cancel its license. "It's a very serious offense, and we will take the strongest action," Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the state of West Bengal, said at the scene. (AP)
