Why a regular ICU is not enough for victims with more than 10% burns

Key points

• The devastating fire at a bed-and-breakfast in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area that killed at least 21 people has drawn attention to a critical gap in India's burn-care infrastructure.
• While many victims were taken to Max Hospital, Saket, one patient with severe burns had to be stabilised and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for specialised treatment.
• At Max Hospital, where several victims were admitted following the blaze, doctors were dealing with a range of injuries caused not just by flames but also by smoke inhalation and trauma sustained while escaping.
• "We received multiple victims from the Malviya Nagar fire incident.
• At present, 15 patients are admitted in the ICU, of whom eight are on ventilator support.