Eight patients were killed after a fire broke out at a private COVID-19 designated hospital in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The eight patients who died were admitted in the ICU ward of the hospital, fire officials said.
The fire was reported at the Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad at around 3:30am on Thursday. The blaze was reportedly caused by an electrical short-circuit.
The victims include five men and three women. Around 35 patients at the facility were rescued and moved to a civic hospital in the city."Eight coronavirus patients admitted in the ICU ward of Shrey Hospital have died due to the fire, which has been doused," an official of the Ahmedabad Fire Department told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths and said that the administration is providing all possible assistance. Modi has also spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and city mayor Bijal Patel regarding the situation.
Saddened by the tragic hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to CM @vijayrupanibjp Ji and Mayor @ibijalpatel Ji regarding the situation. Administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2020
"Saddened by the tragic hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to CM @vijayrupanibjp Ji and Mayor @ibijalpatel Ji regarding the situation. Administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected," PM Modi tweeted. The prime minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund."Ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Rs. 50,000 each would be given to those injured due to the hospital fire," the PMO said in a tweet.
Ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Rs. 50,000 each would be given to those injured due to the hospital fire. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 6, 2020
Visuals from the site show authorities undertaking rescue operations while relatives waited outside the hospital. Principal Health Secretary Jayanti Ravi reached the hospital and said that a probe would be launched into the incident.
(Photo: ANI/Twitter)
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered an investigation into the incident and Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) Sangeeta Singh, will be leading the probe, said a statement released by the CMO. Assistant Commissioner of Police LB Zala told PTI that forensic experts have arrived at the site for a detailed investigation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said he was anguished by the incident and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident at a hospital in Ahmedabad. My condolences and thoughts are with the affected families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured," the home minister said in a tweet.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident at a hospital in Ahmedabad. My condolences and thoughts are with the affected families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 6, 2020
Gujarat is one of the states worst-hit by the coronavirus outbreak. On Wednesday the state reported 1,073 new Covid-19 cases, taking the tally past the 66,000-mark. The case count in the state is 66,777 now, the state health department said. With the death of 23 COVID-19 patients during the day, the number of fatalities went up to 2,557, the department said.
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad district surged to 27,283 with 161 new patients coming to light on Wednesday. The COVID-19 death toll in the district rose to 1,617 with five new fatalities.
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