A massive fire broke out on the second floor of Anandalok Hospital in Kolkata’s Salt Lake Tuesday morning, leading to the evacuation of 70 patients, the police said.

Preliminary reports suggest a short circuit in an air conditioning unit may have sparked the blaze, which quickly filled multiple wards with thick black smoke.

As the fire spread, hospital authorities and emergency workers scrambled to evacuate patients, some of whom were seen sitting on the streets outside while still connected to saline drips and medical channels.

To ensure safety, the hospital elevators were immediately shut down, and patients were relocated to another Anandalok facility in the nearby DL Block.

At the time of the incident, 70 patients were admitted to the hospital, and fifteen surgeries were scheduled for the day. The fire erupted while the sixth operation was in progress.

Amid dense smoke, the fire department deployed two engines and quickly contained the blaze, breaking windows to release the smoke and reach the source.

Hospital authorities said all patients are safe, and 15-20 people were moved in the initial minutes of the fire.

The police and emergency staff are currently using microphones to communicate with anxious relatives and maintain order as the situation is brought under control.