Five Covid-19 patients lost their lives after a fire broke out in the ICU of a designated Covid-19 hospital in Gujarat’s Rajkot in the early hours of Friday.
Fire engulfed the ICU of Uday Shivanand Covid-19 hospital early morning on Friday.
Twenty-eight other coronavirus patients being treated at the hospital were rescued, the reports added.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe into the incident and has expressed sorrow over the incident and announced Rs 4 lakh to the kin of those who lost lives.
Gujarat: Five people died after a fire broke out at Shivanand COVID Hospital in Rajkot, last night.
CM Vijay Rupani has ordered a probe into the incident. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. pic.twitter.com/aRXrGrD3NQ
— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2020
“We rushed to the spot and rescued 30 patients after a call informing them about the fire was received. Three patients died inside the ICU, while two died shortly thereafter,” a fire brigade official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The fire was brought under control, he said, adding the cause of the fire has not been ascertained yet. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire occurred due to a short circuit.
The rescued patients have been shifted to other Covid-19 hospitals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and assured possible assistance to those affected.
“Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to a hospital fire in Rajkot. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured. The administration is ensuring all possible assistance to those affected,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to a hospital fire in Rajkot. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured. The administration is ensuring all possible assistance to those affected: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 27, 2020
This is the fifth incident of fire in which Covid-19 patients were undergoing treatment. In August, eight Covid-19 patients were killed after a fire broke out on the top floor of a four-story private hospital in Ahmedabad.