DADU: Twenty patients suffered serious burns when a fire broke out at a private hospital, City Medical Centre, after explosion of a gas cylinder, engulfing the entire building within minutes here on Sunday.

Many patients jumped out the windows to save their lives and some were rescued by firefighters and volunteers.

By the time fire tenders managed to control the blaze after three hours, it had reduced to ashes all furniture, medicines, instrument and fixtures worth more than Rs3 million.

Most of the injured were pregnant women who were admitted to the hospital for delivery or had visited the facility for regular checkup. They were admitted to Dadu Civil Hospital.

Of them 11 were in serious condition who were identified as Ms Amanat, Ms Hameeda, Ms Naseeban, Ms Shahnaz, Ms Raheeman, Shahnawaz, Mohammad Juman, Ghulam Abbas and two newborn babies of Shahnawaz Chandio.

Senior Medical Officer Dr Talib Hussain said that three patients including two newborn babies of Shahnawaz and Ms Aminat who were in serious condition had been referred to burns ward of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences.

Civil Surgeon Dr Insaf Magsi said that almost all private medical centres operating in the city, including the City Medical Center, were unregistered. He demanded the district administration should take stern action against all such medical centers.

District Health Officer Dr Javed Ahmed Dawachh visited the burnt down hospital and inquired about the cause of fire. The inquiry was at an early stage, he added.

He said that a report would be sent to the secretary of health on unregistered private medical centres.