8 patients dead after fire breaks out at Covid-19 hospital in Ahmedabad

In a major fire incident, eight coronavirus patients were killed in a private Covid-19 designated hospital in Ahmedabad in the wee hours of Thursday. All the victims were in the intensive care unit (ICU) where the fire is said to have started due to short circuit and spread after the fire caught the PPE kit of a paramedical staff who ran in panic inside the unit.

Officials said that all eight patients died on spot due to burn injuries and as they couldn't get out of the ward located on the top floor of the four-storied building. They said that the patients were found dead on their beds indicating that they must have been in deep sleep when the fire started. According to fire officials, they had to break open the glass window from outside to enter the ward as there was no alternative path to reach the ward.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is also the health minister, said that primary information has revealed that fire was caused by the short circuit in the ICU ward where eight patients were under treatment. Patel said that the PPE kit of a paramedical staff (identified as Gaurav Chauhan) caught fire who tried to run away in panic which might have spread the fire.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials said that at around 3.30 am the fire incident took place in the ICU ward of Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura. A statement released by AMC stated, "Preliminary indication of the fire is short circuit. 8 patients inside ICCU died among them five were male and three were females. All other 41 patients, all coronavirus positive, and one injured paramedic have been shifted to SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad."

The victims have been identified as Arif Mansuri, Narendra Shah, Navneet Shah, Manu Rami, Leelvati Shah, Jyoti Sindhi, Manu Rami and Ayesha Tirmizi. Ayesha, wife of advocate Sohail Tirmizi, had tested negative twice and was to be shifted to a special ward for further treatment since she had comorbid conditions. Among the victims are a father-son duo identified as Narendra Shah and Navneet Shah.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Saddened by the tragic hospital fire in Ahmedabad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to CM @vijayrupanibjp Ji and Mayor @ibijalpatel Ji regarding the situation. Administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected."

Soon after the tweet, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered a probe into the matter to be conducted by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home, Sangeeta Singh and ACS (Urban Development) Mukesh Puri. They have been asked to submit a report in three days. Meanwhile, the hospital building has been sealed for further investigation.

Meanwhile, police detained Bharat Mahant who runs the hospital and a ward boy identified as Chirag Patel for questioning.

Soon after the tweet, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered a probe into the matter to be conducted by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home, Sangeeta Singh and ACS (Urban Development) Mukesh Puri. They have been asked to submit a report in three days. Meanwhile, the hospital building has been sealed for further investigation. The chief minister has ordered a report within three days.

"As of today, we are looking at the case as an accidental death and investigating it based on expert opinions, forensic evidence and statements of fire officials. The PM report reveals that the patients died of suffocation and burnt injuries. We will take further action in accordance with the evidence emerging in the probe," special police commissioner, sector-1, R V Asari told DH.