Ahmednagar: Eleven Covid patients were killed while the others suffered burns after the fire broke out in the Ahmednagar civil hospital ICU at around 10:30 a.m.
on Saturday.
Victims, aged between 35 and 70 years, including four women.
Minister of Guard Guard Hasan Mushrif said that regardless of funds provided to improve infrastructure, firefighting equipment was found inadequate.
While the Minister of Guardian of Hasan Mushrif said the eight member probe team led by the Commissioner Divisioner Radhakrishna will investigate the fire, Minister of Health Rajesh Tope announced EX Gratia each for Kin of the Dead.
Mushrif said that regardless of funds provided to the hospital to improve its infrastructure, firefighting equipment was found inadequate.
Ahmednagar NCP Mla Sangram Jagtap said the entire ICU wing on the ground floor was overwhelmed with thick black smoke, creating a problem for hospital staff in evacuating patients.
Rescue efforts can be made only after the fire brigade arrives.
Mushrif said decisive action would be taken against those responsible.
Acting Nashik Range Deepak Pandey said violations caused deaths from negligence would be registered with unknown people of death.
The police will investigate the case independently.
CM Uddhav Thackeray and PM Modi expressed sadness over the incident.
The Ahmednagar District collector Rajendra Bhosale said the body was sent for postmortem.
There are two ICU wings at the hospital – one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor.
Fire broke in the ground floor unit.
Need a fire brigade about half an hour to put out the fire, but at that time the bed and some equipment had been destroyed.
Shankar for example, Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation, said “Hospital staff use fire extinguisher, but black smoke, zero visibility and intense heat inhibit their efforts.”