NEW DELHI • At least 22 people have been killed in two separate fires in India. Most of the victims were patients who were trapped in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a major hospital, officials said yesterday.

More than 40 critically ill patients were in the ICU of a private hospital in the eastern state of Odisha when a fire broke out on Monday night, apparently after an electric short circuit.

The authorities said 20 people died in the blaze, mostly from smoke inhalation.

More than 100 patients were rescued by firefighters who smashed windows to get them out of the burning building.

Two more people died early yesterday morning when a high-rise luxury apartment block in the western city of Mumbai caught fire.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE