Live News Eight patients have died in a fire that broke out at a Covid-19 designated hospital in Ahmedabad, officials have said. Our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the Ahmedabad hospital fire.
At least eight patients died after a major fire broke out at a Covid-19 hospital in Ahmedabad in the wee hours of Thursday.
All eight victims, including five men and three women, were novel coronavirus patients admitted to hospital. They were being treated at the ICU ward of the Covid-19 designated Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad, an official said.
“Eight coronavirus patients admitted in the ICU ward of Shrey Hospital have died due to the fire, which has been doused,” said an official of the Ahmedabad Fire Department.
A healthcare worker was also injured in the fire, the official added.
The fire broke out at the Ahmedabad hospital around 3.30 am in the ICU unit of, police said.
Several fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. The fire was finally brought under control at 4.22 am, officials said. The cause of the fire is not known yet, he said.
Around 40 other Covid-19 patients at Shrey Hospital were rescued and shifted to a civic hospital in the city.
As per officials, around 50 Covid-19 patients were admitted to Shrey Hospital. Of these, 10 were in the ICU unit of the Ahmedabad hospital.
With 1,073 new coronavirus positive cases, Gujarat’s Covid-19 tally reached 66,777 on Wednesday. The number of deceased has gone up to 2,557, an official said.
PM Modi offers condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the tragedy as he offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the fire.
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
