11 killed in Mumbai hospital fire, CM Thackeray apologies, announces Rs 5 lakh relief | All that happened
A major fire broke out at a mall in Mumbai that houses a Covid-19 hospital on the third floor. Eleven people have died so far in the fire that broke out late on Thursday night.
A major fire broke out at a mall in Mumbai that houses a Covid-19 hospital on the third floor. Eleven people have died so far in the fire that broke out late on Thursday night. However, Sunrise Hospital later issued a statement saying the casualties were due to Covid-19 and not the fire.
Initially, it was reported that two Covid patients at the hospital have died in the fire while some others were feared trapped in the building. Hours later, the Mumbai fire death toll went up to 10. Chief Fire Officer at Mumbai Fire Department said the death toll has gone up to 11 in the fire at Sunrise Hospital in Dreams Mall at Bhandup West.
What happened at Mumbai hospital:
6.12 pm: The death toll in the Mumbai hospital fire has risen to 11, news agency ANI reports.
1.45 pm: The firefighters have managed to douse down the flames after a prolonged fight since Thursday night to contain the fire. Cooling operations are on.
1.42 pm: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray says, “Action will be taken against those who are found responsible. Compensation will be given to families of the deceased. Most of the patients who have died were on the ventilator. I offer my condolences and apologies to their families.”
1.40 pm: CM Uddhav Thackeray, who reached the Sunrise Hospital this afternoon, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the victims.
Uddhav Thackeray further said that the hospital was established to serve as a Covid facility during the peak days of the pandemic. "Its license was due to expire on March 31, but the fire took place before that. However, the fire did not start at the hospital, but elsewhere," said Uddhav.
1.15 pm: "10 people have died in the fire incident. This is a serious incident. Negligence of hospital management has come to light. We will register a case," said Mumbai Police Commissioner on fire at Sunrise Hospital.
1.10 pm: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has reached the spot at the Sunrise Hospital where 10 Covid patients perished in the massive fire.
1 pm: In an update, the authorities said the fire broke out at a shop within 100-200 sq meter area of Dreams Mall. The fire extinguishing work was still in progress on Friday morning, several hours since it started.
12 noon: The fire broke out at Dreams Mall in Bhandup of Mumbai that houses the Sunrise Hospital on the third floor. Reacting to the fire incident, Mumbai Mayor said, “The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. I've seen a hospital at the mall for the first time. Action will be taken. 70 patients, including Covid-infected ones, have been shifted to another hospital.”
A total of 76 patients were admitted to the hospital and 73 of them were Covid-19 patients. All of them have been shifted to different hospitals.
Mumbai: Firefighting operation underway at the mall where a fire broke out last night; latest visuals from the spot pic.twitter.com/OTBMtJq5EK — ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2021
DCP Prashant Kadam had said earlier, “Two casualties have been reported in the fire incident. Rescue operation for 76 patients admitted to Covid care hospital is underway.”
“There was a fire on first floor of Dreams Mall, Bhandup and the smoke reached the Sunrise Hospital located at the top floor. All fire alarms beeped and hence all patients were safely evacuated due to the smoke to the fire refuge area,” said the hospital in its statement.
It further said, “There were 2 dead bodies (due to Covid) which were also evacuated. There was no casualty due to fire. All patients were promptly shifted to the jumbo Covid centre (and some to other private hospitals).”
10 am: The fire was declared as Level 4 and 23 fire tenders had rushed to the spot in Bhandup of Mumbai to carry out the rescue and relief operations. The firefighters continued their efforts to douse the blaze till Friday morning.
The Mumbai fire incident comes at a time when the city is seeing an upsurge in coronavirus cases. On Thursday, Mumbai recorded 5,504 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily count since the pandemic began.
Sunrise Hospital also said, “This hospital was started under exceptional circumstances of Covid last year and has helped in saving many patients. It is functioning with all due compliances like fire license, nursing home licence etc. The hospital staff did a fantastic job in safely evacuating patients on wheelchairs and beds to the refuge areas and by following the fire drills.”