While India is battling with the Covid crisis, another mishap during the wee hours of Saturday and left people distressed. At least 18 coronavirus patients died after a fire broke out at a hospital in Gujarat's Bharuch in the early hours on Saturday.
According to the latest information, the fire broke out in the ICU ward of the Covid care centre but the cause of the fire is unknown.
According to a PTI report, there were around 50 other patients at the four-storeyed Welfare Hospital when the fire broke out in the COVID-19 ward at 1 am. They were rescued by locals and firefighters, an official said.
"As per information at 6.30 am, the death count in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths," a police official said
Horrific visuals of the mishap showed remains of some patients on stretchers and beds.
The 12 patients in the COVID-19 ward died due to the fire and resultant smoke while it is unclear if the remaining 6 patients died of the same reason or when they were being shifted to other hospitals.
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday announced financial assistance of ₹4 lakh for the families of 18 people, who were killed in a fire at a Covid-19 designated hospital in the state’s Bharuch. Rupani also extended his condolences to the patients, doctors and the hospital staff who lost their lives in the fire.
The COVID-19 designated hospital is situated on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, around 190 km from the state capital Ahmedabad and is being run by a trust.
A fire official informed that the blaze was controlled in an hour and around 50 were rescued by local and firefighters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the accident in Bharuch. "Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire at a hospital in Bharuch. Condolences to the bereaved families," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.