Five coronavirus patients died in a fire at a private hospital’s intensive care unit in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. Raipur, Chhattisgarh, police said on Sunday.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has announced Rs. 4 lakh compensation to the next of the those killed.
Bharathi Dasan, the Raipur Collector, has ordered an investigation into the incident. The incident has been referred to officials for further investigation. Officials have been ordered to perform safety checks at all of the city’s coronavirus hospitals.
The fire broke out at 5 pm in the first floor of the Rajdhani hospital in Raipur. Thirty-four patients were admitted in the hospital; nine were admitted in the ICU, officials said.
It took two hours to bring the fire under control, officials added. Other patients have been shifted to other hospitals.
“Five persons have lost their lives in the incident. Other patients have been shifted to other hospitals. Investigation will be done,” police official Tarkeshwar Patel said.
According to investigators, the fire started as a result of a short-circuit in a fan and quickly spread to other wards.
A supervisor saw smoke emanating from the intensive care unit and notified the hospital officials, who notified the police about the incident. The patients were evacuated by the fire department and ambulance workers. The fire took over an hour to put out.
Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congressman, has asked the state government to give all possible assistance to the victims’ families.
“The news of a fire in the ICU of a Raipur hospital is heartbreaking. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families who have lost loved ones. An appeal has been made to the state government to provide all possible assistance to bereaved families during this tough period “Mr Gandhi tweeted in hindi.
COVID cases have been on the rise in Chhattisgarh at an alarming pace. According to the Union Health Ministry, there are currently 1,24,303 active COVID-19 cases in Chhattisgarh, bringing the total number of cases to 3,86,529. The death toll in the state has risen to 5,580.
