Kabita Subudhi and Laxmipriya Sahu can't stop thanking God for saving the lives of their little ones — both boys named Sai — from the devastating fire that killed 20 patients at SUM Hospital here on Monday.

AP

In reality, though, it was a quick-thinking doctor along with a nurse — manning the ICU — who saved four children, including that of Kabita and Laxmipriya.

AFP

Jharpada resident Kabita had admitted her one-month-old child with pneumonia to the ICU a few days ago.

On Monday, at around 7pm, her mother Sukanti saw smoke coiling into the ICU. Kabita was then away — at a temple.

AP

Sukanti alerted the hospital staff, who seemed clueless.

Just then, the hospital's public address system announced that a fire had broken out on the second floor. "I began trembling as my grandson was on the same floor," said Sukanti.

The doctor and the nurse broke the glass window of the ICU and handed over four babies to their guardians.