13 patients killed after fire breaks out at COVID-19 care center in Virar; CM orders enquiry

Thirteen coronavirus patients who were in the ICU have died in a fire at a hospital in Maharashtra's Virar.

According to reports, the fire broke out at around 3 am in the ICU on the second floor of the four-storeyed Vijay Vallabh Hospital. Around 90 patients were admitted to the Covid Care Centre at the time of the incident, later at least 21 patients including those in critical conditions were shifted to the nearby hospital.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered an enquiry.

In a statement, CM Uddhav Thackeray's office said he "has expressed sorrow" over the deaths. "He has directed that other patients undergoing treatment should not be harmed and should be relocated immediately. After learning about the fire, the Chief Minister himself has spoken to the concerned officials and asked them to, first of all, give priority to extinguishing the fire completely and ensure that treatment on other patients continues," the official statement read.

"The cause of the fire should be properly investigated. He also directed the administration to immediately inquire whether the fire safety was adequate and whether it was a private hospital," it added.

Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on the loss of lives saying, "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 fire at a COVID-19 hospital in Virar is tragic. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 23, 2021

The PM has approved an ex gratia of INR 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire and INR 50,000 to those seriously injured.

PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Virar, Maharashtra. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 23, 2021

A day earlier, Maharashtra was struck by another tragedy when 24 coronavirus patients died in Nashik after an oxygen tanker leaked outside a hospital, disrupting supply to patients for around 30 minutes.