Eight COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at a COVID-19 designated Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad were swallowed by fire at 3 am in Ahmedabad’s Navarangpura area. The fire occurred in the ICU ward on the fourth floor.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani immediately ordered a probe into the fire tragedy.
The patients that died included five male and three female patients who were under treatment in the hospital. Around 40 other patients admitted in the hospital were shifted to the civic body-run SVP hospital following the massive fire.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sangeeta Singh and ACS (urban development) Mukesh Puri have been asked to probe the incident and submit a report within three days.
Mr Rupani has also ordered them to fix the responsibility if there was any negligence on the part of hospital management or any the hospital lacked foolproof fire safety system in its premises.
The fire occurred in the ICU ward on the fourth floor. Primary cause of the fire has been recognised as a short circuit in the ICU ward.
Soon after the incident, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Mukesh Kumar, Mayor Bijal Patel, Principal Secretary (health and family welfare) Jayanti Ravi rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief at the loss of these lives and promised the affected that the administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected.
“Saddened by the tragic hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Mr. Modi had a talk with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and city mayor Bijal Patel regarding the situation.
The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Ahmedabad. ₹50,000 each to those injured due to the hospital fire.
