In a tragic incident, at least 11 Covid-19 patients died after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a government hospital in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on Saturday.
As per reports, 25 patients were admitted to the ICU at the hospital, and six of them suffered serious burn injuries during the incident.
Reports suggest that an electrical short-circuit may have triggered the fire. However, the correct reason can only be announced after the investigation is completed. The fire broke out at around 10.30 am at the Covid ward, and it took 45 minutes to bring the situation under control.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished by the deaths. Modi tweeted, “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.”
The state government announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of those who died in the fire accident at the hospital.