Kabul, Sep 30 (IANS): Médecins Sans Frontières' (MSF) trauma hospital here has been overwhelmed with the injured following heavy fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban militants in the northern Afghan Kunduz city.

Since Monday, MSF's medical teams have treated 171 wounded, including 46 children, a media statement said on Wednesday.

Fifty patients arrived in critical condition. The majority of patients had sustained gunshot wounds, with surgeons treating severe abdominal, limb and head injuries.

The hospital is inundated with patients, said Guilhem Molinie, MSF's country representative in Afghanistan.

"We have quickly increased the number of beds from 92 to 110 to cope with the unprecedented level of admissions but people keep arriving," Molinie said.

"We have 130 patients spread throughout the wards, in the corridors and even in offices. With the hospital reaching its limit and fighting continuing, we are worried about being able to cope with any new influx of the wounded," Molinie added.

The injured continued to arrive on Tuesday and critical patients were also referred to the hospital from MSF's stabilisation clinic in Chardara district.

MSF's hospital is the only facility of its kind in the whole northeastern region of Afghanistan, providing free life- and limb-saving trauma care.

MSF started working in Afghanistan in 1980.