5 patients died in a fire in the ICU of the designated Kovid-19 hospital late Thursday night in Rajkot city of Gujarat. An official of the fire department said that 26 other patients who were undergoing treatment in the corona virus in the hospital, have been safely saved.All of them have been admitted to other hospitals. Fire Department Officer J.J. B. Theva said that the fire started in the ICU on the first floor in the four-storey Udaya Shivanand Hospital located at Anand Bunglow Chowk at around 12:30 pm on Thursday. A total of 31 patients were admitted here.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani expressed grief over the incident and ordered an inquiry into it. He has also announced compensation of Rs. 4 lakh each to the family of the deceased. Rajkot Police Commissioner Manoj Aggarwal said, “Five of the 11 patients admitted to the ICU died due to the fire. It was controlled before the fire spread to the rest of the floors. ‘
State Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel said, “There was a fire in the ICU ward late at 12:30 pm and the fire department controlled it in about half an hour.” Three patients infected with the corona virus died on the spot, while the other two succumbed when they were being taken to another hospital. ‘
Patel said, “No one else has been injured in the accident. The remaining 26 patients have been admitted to other hospitals. ”He said preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a shot-circuit in a ventilator. NOC was near the private hospital. Also, all fire fighting equipment were present in the hospital. The Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement that senior IAS officer A.K. K. Rakesh will investigate the case.
