On Friday, in the early hours, five coronavirus patients were killed in a fire that has broken out in the ICU of a designated COVID-19 hospital in Rajkot, Gujarat. Nitin Patel, State Deputy Chief Minister confirmed this news. He further told the reporters that twenty-six other patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital are rescued and shifted to other facilities.

The fire broke at 12.30 am in the ICU ward, which is located on the 1st floor of the four-storey Uday Shivanand Hospital and almost 31 patients were being admitted there.

Gujarat’s Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has expressed his grief over this incident and has ordered an investigation regarding it. He announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the relatives of each deceased patient.

Manoj Agarwal, Police Commissioner of Rajkot said that out of the 11 coronavirus patients admitted in the ICU ward, five patients have lost their lives in the fire. The fire was quickly brought under control before spreading to other floors.

Twenty-six patients, who were taking treatment on the upper floors were shifted to other hospitals.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the fire was due to short circuit in a ventilator. The private hospital had fire NOC and all the firefighting equipment’s were also installed.

The victims were identified as Nitin Badani, Ram Singh, Rasik Agravat, Keshu Akbari and Sanjay Rathod, according to the police officials.

In August too, 8 coronavirus patients were killed in a fire break out on the upper floor of a 4-storey Ahmedabad’s private hospital.

Source: The Indian Express