New Delhi, December 8: December 9 holds a tragic memory in history, marked by a devastating fire at Kolkata’s AMRI Hospital in 2011. The blaze claimed the lives of approximately 90 patients. The fire, which began in the hospital's basement, quickly engulfed the entire building. While many patients were evacuated to safety, several succumbed to suffocation.
Here’s a timeline of other notable events that occurred on this day in history:
- 1946: Sonia Gandhi was born in Italy.
- 1946: The first session of the Constituent Assembly of India was held at the Library Hall of the Council Chamber in New Delhi. The Muslim League boycotted the meeting, demanding a separate Constituent Assembly for Pakistan.
- 1961: Tanganyika gained independence, with Julius Nyerere becoming its first Prime Minister. In 1964, it merged with Zanzibar to form Tanzania.
- 1979: The World Health Organization officially declared the eradication of smallpox, ten years after launching a global campaign against this deadly disease.
- 1987: England cricket captain Mike Gatting and umpire Shakoor Rana had a heated argument during the second Test match in Pakistan, delaying the second day's play.
- 1992: Prince Charles and Princess Diana formally announced their separation. Their royal wedding on July 29, 1981, had been watched by an estimated one billion people worldwide.
- 2011: The AMRI Hospital fire in Kolkata resulted in one of the deadliest hospital disasters in India, claiming the lives of nearly 90 patients.
This date serves as a reminder of both progress and tragedy, offering lessons from history while commemorating pivotal moments.
