The death toll in Virar hospital fire incident on Friday ha risen to 14, said Palghar District Collector. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said that the fire incident at Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital in the Virar area of Maharashtra's Palghar district in which 13 patients loss their lives is 'not national news'.
"The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh and the Mahanagar Palika will also provide Rs 5 lakhs," the minister said.
Tope further said that there will a detailed investigation into the matter and the culprits will be punished.
At least 14 patients died on Friday after a fire broke out at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the COVID hospital.
The incident took place around 3:30 am on the second floor of the facility, the Corona Control Room, Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation informed. Three fire tenders of the Virar Fire Brigade reached the spot to douse the fire. It was extinguished by 5:20 am. Other COVID patients have been shifted to other hospitals.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered an inquiry into the fire incident and also directed the administration to immediately inquire whether the fire safety measures at the hospital were adequate or not.