Ahmedabad fire: Eight patients have died after a fire broke out at a Coronavirus designated hospital in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, an official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. The fire broke out at around 3.30 am in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Shrey Hospital located in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad, police said. While multiple fire tenders were pressed into the action, the hospital authority also tried to evacuate patients. Around 40 patients were rescued.
Shrey Hospital has been sealed now and 41 patients were shifted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital. Preliminary information has revealed that a fire broke out in the ICU Unit due to a short circuit this morning. Five men and 3 women lost their lives in the fire incident, said Additional Chief Secretary of Gujarat Government Rajiv Kumar Gupta. Rajendra Asari, JCP, Sector 1, Ahmedabad has said that police were taking the help of fire and forensic experts in the investigation and a trustee of the hospital is being interrogated.
CM Vijay Rupani has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the family of deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured, in Shrey Hospital fire incident, announced Chief Minister’s Office. PM Narendra Modi has also announced a compensation of Rs 2 Lakh each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of the deceased. He has also announced Rs 50,000 to be given to those injured due to the fire. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe into the incident of fire at Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad. Sangeeta Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department) will be leading the probe. The CM has ordered a report within 3 days, Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has said.
Assistant commissioner of police, B division, Ahmedabad city LB Zala said that the death toll is eight persons. He said that the fire started at around 3:30. However, it has been controlled now. Several patients were rescued and the bodies have been sent for post mortem, as per The Indian Express report.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over the tragic incident.”Saddened by the tragic hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” PM Modi tweeted. PM Modi has spoken to CM Vijay Rupani and Ahmedabad Mayor Bijal Patel regarding the situation. The administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected, PM Modi said.
Gujarat recorded 1,073 new Coronavirus cases and 23 COVID-related deaths on Wednesday. Gujarat’s COVID-19 tally reached 66,777 and the death toll due to the highly contagious disease stood at 2,557. Ahmedabad’s COVID-19 tally reached 27,283 with the addition of 161 new Coronavirus cases. The city has registered 5 deaths taking the toll to 1,617, Gujarat health department said.
