Ahmednagar fire: FIR lodged against unknown people; inquiry committee formed

Post the preliminary investigation, the Nashik Police Commissioner, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, said that the officials have lodged an FIR against unknown people owing to the fire that broke out at the Ahmednagar district civil hospital. Information regarding the same was given by Deepak Pandey who added that an officer equivalent will be investigating the matter, and the selection will be kept similar to a DCP or a police inspector or DCP. 

A total of 11 COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital passed away due the fire. An inquiry committee has been formed to probe the incident. Details regarding the same was shared by Ahmednagar Guardian Minister, Hasan Mushrif, who added that the Divisional Commissioner will be leading the committee. 

He also emphasised that despite several warnings, associations fail to conduct fire audit still and this leads to such unfortunate incidents. Strict actions will be decided post the committee submits a report. An update shared by the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare revealed that 17 patients were being treated in the ICU for COVID-19 infection, and were shifted soon after the fire broke out, but 11 out of the 17 patients passed away. The remaining six patients  and their relatives were visited by the officials to understand their health condition.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire broke out due to a a short circuit, however, the exact cause is yet to be confirmed. Following the incident, the state government announced INR 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased as an ex gratia amount.  Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also shared his condolences and expressed grief over the lives lost. Sharing a tweet, he said, "Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest."

In another shocking incident, a level-1 fire broke out on the fourteenth floor of Hansa Heritage building in Kandivali, at 8:33 pm, on Saturday, November 6, 2021. A total of seven fire brigade vehicles rushed to the spot for fire fighting operations.