10 killed as fire breaks out at hotel used as Covid-19 facility in Andhra Pradesh

As many as 10 patients died because of a massive fire in a Vijayawada hotel functioning as a Covid-19 care centre since July.

The incident occurred in the wee hours of Sunday in the Swarna Palace hotel on the Eluru Road where 31 Covid-19 patients were undergoing treatment, with about 12 medical, and supportive staff.

The centre was being operated by the city-based Ramesh Hospitals.

Antigen tests conducted on the 10 bodies reportedly showed only two of them as Covid-19 positive. Some of the patients, according to their grieving relatives, were to be discharged on Sunday. Most of the patients who lodged in the hotel are said to be with mild symptoms.

According to the Vijayawada police commissioner B Srinivasulu, the fire broke out at about 5 am from the reception’s computer area, “probably due to short circuit.”

“Two employees have jumped off from the first floor,” the commissioner said. However, no casualties of the employees were reported.

Fire tenders rushed to the spot immediately and evacuated those trapped inside through ladders and brought the fire under control. The rescued patients were shifted to nearby hospitals.

One of the seven bodies taken out was badly charred, fire officials said. Suffocation due to smoke is the reason for most of the deaths.

In a similar incident on Thursday, a fire in a Covid-19 hospital in Ahmedabad killed eight patients.

Hotel and hospital booked

Police have registered a case against the hotel and the hospital management based on the complaint of the local tehsildar P Jayasri.

In her complaint, the official has contended that the hotel and the hospital management had opened the Covid-19 facility despite having knowledge of the electrical defects in the building and its hazards.

“They avoided repairs as rectification involves huge expenditure,” the Vijayawada central tehsildar said adding that the two groups “are responsible for the death of 10 persons.”

The case was booked under IPC sections 304 (negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) and 308 (acting with knowledge and under circumstances where a death causing act would a culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

AP’s health minister AKK Srinivas and earlier DGP Gautam Sawang inspected the mishap site. The minister announced committees to probe the incident’s cause and examine the permissions granted for the hotel to operate as a Covid-19 centre. These committees have to submit their reports within two days.

“The private hospital’s negligence is seen as the cause, preliminarily. We will act tough on whoever is responsible,” the minster stated.

All the victims are from Vijayawada and other areas of the Krishna district which has till Saturday reported 9,853 positive cases and 208 deaths. Andhra Pradesh has recorded 2.17 lakh Covid-19 cases till Saturday, with 1939 deaths.

Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy reviewed the situation and announced Rs 50 lakh compensation for each of the deceased families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi enquired about the Vijayawada mishap with the CM, officials said.

“Anguished by the fire at a Covid-19 centre in Vijayawada. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. Discussed the prevailing situation with AP CM Reddy and assured all possible support,” Modi tweeted.

Opposition leader and former CM Chandrababu Naidu also expressed his anguish