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At least 13 patients fighting Covid have died after a tragic blaze inside the hospital’s ICU unit.
According to reports, there were 17 patients in the intensive care unit of the ward, and 13 patients have passed away.
The incident took place at the Vijay Vallabh Covid Care Hospital in Virar West, India, at 3.15am local time (10.15pm GMT).
21 patients, including those fighting for their lives, have been moved to another hospital following the events.
District Disaster Control Cell chief Vivekanand Kadam said the fire occurred when an AC unit exploded inside the ICU.
India is currently seeing a huge spike in coronavirus cases, with the number of daily Covid cases hitting a record high in the country and 2,104 people dying yesterday.
Fire crews from the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation put out the fire within an hour, Kadam said.
Pictures from the scene show the ward completely destroyed by the blaze, with hospital beds charred.
Families of patients claim the fire broke out due to negligence and are demanding an investigation, with the Chief Minister’s Office ordering an inquiry into the incident.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to send condolences for the victims, writes ABPLive.
“The fire at a COVID-19 hospital in Virar is tragic. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”
The PM also announced that 50,000 rupees (£481) will be given to the injured, and Rs 2 lakh (£1925) to the next of kin for the deceased.
The Maharashtra government also announced an extra £4800 will be given to the families of those who died.
Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde said: “This is a big accident. Those found responsible won’t be spared. The government will provide financial assistance to the families of those who lost their lives.”
Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the country by the pandemic.
The tragic fire comes a day after 22 people lost their lives due to a low oxygen supply after an oxygen tanker leaked outside Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital in Maharashtra.
District collector, Suraj Mandhare says the oxygen supply was interrupted after a leak in one of the storage tankers at the site.
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