Mumbai Hospital Fire: Maharashtra CM Asks For 'Forgiveness', Announces Compensation

Mumbai Hospital Fire: Thackeray, who visited the Dreams Mall Sunrise Hospital located on the fourth floor of a shopping mall in Mumbai’s Bhandup neighbourhood to take stock of the situation.

Firefighters attempt to douse a blaze at Dreams Mall, affecting patients admitted in the nearby COVID-19 dedicated Sunrise Hospital, in Mumbai, Friday, March 26, 2021. (PTI Photo)

Expressing profound grief over the loss of innocent lives following the fire at a hospital in a Mumbai mall, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday sought forgiveness from the families of those departed.

Thackeray, who visited the Dreams Mall Sunrise Hospital located on the fourth floor of a shopping mall in Mumbai’s Bhandup neighbourhood to take stock of the situation, announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the family members of the victims.

“The firefighters did a great job in rescuing people. However... some who were on ventilators could not be rescued. I seek forgiveness from their families,” he told the media.

Thackeray said the hospital had been set up to deal with the surge in coronavirus cases.

“We have been fighting against the coronavirus for the past year. When the pandemic hit the state, there were very few beds and ventilators, but we continued our fight and set up temporary hospitals. This hospital was temporarily allowed to treat coronavirus patients,” he said, adding the hospital’s permit would have expired on March 31.

Stating the preliminary reports suggested the fire originated at a shop in the mall and not in the hospital itself, the Chief Minister assured that “whoever is at fault” for the misfortune “will be punished”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is presently on an official visit to Bangladesh, also expressed his grief over the incident.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire at a hospital in Mumbai. I pray that the injured recover soon: PM @narendramodi,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted.

At least 10 people lost their lives in the fire, which broke out shortly after midnight. Around 70 patients being treated for the virus in this temporary hospital have been moved to safety following the fire, which was reported at around 12.30 a.m.