Eight COVID-19 patients killed in fire at Ahmedabad hospital, medic injured

AHMEDABAD ;

EIGHT coronavirus patients died in a fire inside the ICU ward ofaprivate hospitalin Ahmedabad city in the early hours of Thursday, officials said. A para-medical staffmemberofthe hospital was injured in the tragedy. A cumulative compensation of Rs 6lakh each for the families of the deceased — five men and three women — was announced by the Centreand Gujarat Government. The blaze broke out around3.30am on top floor of the four-storey Shrey Hospital in Navrang pura area, officials said. It is one of the 60-odd ‘designated’ privatehospitals authorisedto treat COVID patients.

“Eight coronaviruspatients admitted in the ICU ward on the fourth floor of Shrey Hospital have died due to fire. 41 other COVID patients who were in the general ward on bottom floors were rescued and shifted to SVP Hospital,” said Rajiv Kumar Gupta, an IAS officer.

ShreyHospitalwassealedforinvestigation, said Gupta, who has been deputed in Ahmedabad as an officer on special duty. Preliminary investigation showed that the fire was caused by a short circuit, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief overthe incident and announced ex-gratia compensation ofRs2 lakhforthe kinofthedeceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.