At least 18 coronavirus patients died after a fire broke out at a hospital in Gujarat's Bharuch in the early hours on Saturday. Gut-wrenching visuals of the tragedy showed remains of some patients roasted alive on stretchers and beds. There were around 50 other patients at the four-storeyed Welfare Hospital when the fire broke out in the COVID-19 ward at 1 am. They were rescued by locals and firefighters, an official said.
"As per information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths," a police official told PTI. The 12 patients in the COVID-19 ward died due to the fire and resultant smoke, Bharuch SP Rajendrasinh Chudasama said. It is not clear if the remaining six also died in the Welfare hospital or while being shifted to other hospitals.
The COVID-19 designated hospital is situated on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, around 190 km from the state capital Ahmedabad and is being run by a trust. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said. The fire was controlled within an hour and around 50 patients were rescued by locals as well as firefighters, a fire official said. They were shifted to nearby hospitals, he added.
"As per information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths," a police official told PTI. The 12 patients in the COVID-19 ward died due to the fire and resultant smoke, Bharuch SP Rajendrasinh Chudasama said. It is not clear if the remaining six also died in the Welfare hospital or while being shifted to other hospitals.
The COVID-19 designated hospital is situated on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, around 190 km from the state capital Ahmedabad and is being run by a trust. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said. The fire was controlled within an hour and around 50 patients were rescued by locals as well as firefighters, a fire official said. They were shifted to nearby hospitals, he added.
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3 Comments on this Story
 | Vishwajeet Kathe50 minutes ago Remove curtainsâ ¦ start proper ventilation to avoid alcohol from ceiling and off course our old proper practice of proper detection and suppression systemâ ¦ Hospitals have tendency of increasing efficiency of AC by keeping ill ventilation to reduce electricity bills |
| Vipin Saraika50 minutes ago news media shouldn't use the term roasted atleast show some courtesy and sympathy for the dead ones |
| Krishnan K N1 hour ago This tragedy is happening across the country. Simple reason is over worked medical appliances are creating a short circuit. Just audits are not enough . The real solution is erect temparory centres across the country of huge capacity oon an urgent basis. Take help of our highly capable armed forces for erection. Else more such fires are imminent considering high case loads of hospitals. |