At least 11 people were killed after a major fire broke out at a private COVID-19 hospital in Mumbai's Bhandup area in the early hours of Friday, March 26.
The incident took place at Dreams Mall in Bhandup of Mumbai that houses the Sunrise Hospital on the third floor. However, it has come to light that the fire that was classified as a level-3 or level-4 broke out on the first floor of a mall at 12:30 am.
Around 22 fire tenders reached the hospital to douse the flames. According to reports, as many as 76 coronavirus patients were admitted to the hospital, which is located on the third floor of a mall. The patients have now been shifted to another medical centre.
Reacting to this, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said, "This is the first time I have seen a hospital in a mall. This is a matter of concern as seven patients were on a ventilator. Action will be taken. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. There will be an investigation in this case.”
Later, Sunrise Hospital issued a statement saying the two casualties were due to COVID-19 and not the fire. The bodies were evacuated, said Sunrise. Moreover, all the patients were promptly shifted to the jumbo Covid centre and some to other private hospitals.
There was a fire on the first floor of Dreams Mall, Bhandup and the smoke reached up to the hospital located on the top floor. All fire alarms began beeping and hence all patients were safely evacuated, Sunrise Hospital added.
Clarifying on opening a hospital in a mall, the hospital’s statement said that this hospital was started in exceptional circumstances of coronavirus pandemic last year and has helped in saving many patients from Covid deaths. It is functioning with all due compliances like fire licence, nursing home licence etc. The hospital staff did a fantastic job in safely evacuating patients on wheelchairs and beds to the refuge areas and by following the fire drills.
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