Atleast 13 patients died after a fire broke out at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital in the Virar area of Maharashtra's Palghar district. 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.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya slammed the Maharashtra government over the fire incident. The leader took to Twitter and wrote, "Maharashtra me COVID Mrutyu ka Tandav shuru hai. Virar COVID Hospital Fire 13 Dead. Thackeray Sarkar should immediately take help of Govt of India & Army for COVID Health Oxygen & Fire Audit of COVID Centers hould be done by Professional Experts. Health Minister Rajesh Tope must be sacked."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in a blaze at a private hospital in Maharashtra''s Palghar district and approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the victims.
"PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF (Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund) for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Virar, Maharashtra. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured," the PMO said in a tweet.
Maharashtra government on Friday announced Rs 5 lakhs ex-gratia for kin of the deceased who lost their lives after fire broke out at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a COVID hospital and Rs 1 lakh each for the critically injured patients in the Virar area of Maharashtra's Palghar district.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, a high-level inquiry has been ordered to probe the Virar Hospital Fire incident.