Fire horror in Ahmedabad hospital kills 8 Covid patients in ICU

AHMEDABAD: Eight coronavirus patients were asphyxiated to death in a fire that broke out inside the ICU ward of Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad city early on Thursday. A short circuit in one of the life-support systems in the ward is suspected to have triggered the fire.
As many as 41 patients and one paramedic were rescued and shifted to SVP Hospital, a 1,500-bed Covid-19 facility run by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Municipal authorities have sealed the Shrey Hospital building to conduct an investigation. Shrey is one of the 60-odd ‘designated’ private hospitals which have been authorised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to treat coronavirus patients.
Chief minister Vijay Rupani ordered an inquiry by a team of additional chief secretary (home) Sangeeta Singh and her counterpart in the urban development department Mukesh Puri. They will submit its report within two days. He also announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was also announced to the kin of those who died in the fire, said the Prime Minister’s Office. In addition, Rs 50,000 each would be given to those injured in the incident.
The victims include Navin Shah (80) and Narendra Shah (61); Manubhai Rami (82), Lilavati Shah (72), Jyoti Sindhi (55), Aarif Mansuri (42), Arvind Bhavsar (78) and Ayesha Tirnizi (51).
Patients’ kin aghast
Police said, “Prima facie, there is negligence as the hospital did not have a fire NOC.”According to Ahmedabad Fire Emergency Services (AFES) officers, a call was received at 3.10 am on Thursday. Four fire engines and 40 personnel reached the hospital. The operation continued for one and half hours. “When our team reached the spot, ward boys were looking for water to douse the fire. It was apparent that they were not trained in using the fire safety equipment installed,” a fire official said.
Shrey Hospital trustee Bharat Mahant has been detained. A case of accidental death has been registered. “An FIR will be filed after the forensic investigation is over,” a police official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced exgratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. “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,” the PM tweeted.
The kin of the dead alleged that the hospital authorities, who called them for payment reminders, did not even bother to inform them about this horrific tragedy.