At leastu00a089 people, most of them patients, died in a fire that broke out in the basement of the AMRI hospital here, hospital officials said Friday.

Many more are believed to be trapped in the building, even as firemen, who many complained had reached the spot only after two hours, brought out the dead and injured using ropes and ladders.

Hospital fire (video)

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had confirmed 61 deaths in the tragedy.

"Forty bodies have been taken to the (state-run) SSKM Hospital," Mamata Banerjee told reporters at the spot.

"Twenty other bodies are still there in an upper floor of the AMRI hospital," she said.