8 Covid-19 patients die in India hospital fire

Eight coronavirus patients died in a huge fire that broke out in the intensive care ward of a private hospital at Ahmedabad in Indian State Gujarat early Thursday morning, reports NDTV. 

As the blaze broke out at Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad's Navrangpura area at around 3 AM, eight fire engines and 10 ambulances of the fire department were rushed to the site. Five men and three women - admitted to the ICU ward - died.

"A staffer whose PPE caught fire ran out of the ward to douse it but the fire spread rapidly to the whole ward," Rajesh Bhatt, additional chief fire officer of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services, was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

"Five men and three women, who were undergoing treatment for the novel coronavirus were not in a position to escape," he added.

About 45 patients were admitted to the 50-bed hospital at the time of accident; rest of them have been rescued and shifted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, a civic hospital in the city, an official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths in his home state. "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 (sic)," he tweeted this morning.

Visuals from the site showed the fire officials carrying out rescue operations as family members of the patients outside the hospital - disturbed as the news of fire broke - tried to get more information about them.

A probe into the incident has been ordered by Gujarat Chief Minter Vijay Rupani and the hospital has been sealed, news agency ANI reported. "Sangeeta Singh, Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department), will be leading the probe. The Chief Minister has ordered for a report within three days," read a statement by Mr Rupani's office.

"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," a tweet by the Prime Minister's office read. 

Sources said the blaze broke out due to a short circuit. The bodies of the eight patients have been taken for postmortem. 

With over 65,000 coronavirus cases so far, Gujarat is among the 10 worst-hit states in India by the outbreak. Around 48,000 patients have recovered so far. 

Across India, over 19 lakh patients have been affected by the pandemic so far; over 40,000 have died due to highly infectious disease.