NE NEWS SERVICE
VIJAYAWADA, AUG 9
Days after eight patients were charred to death at a COVID facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, as many ten patients were killed in a fire accident at a hotel which was converted as COVID-19 care facility here, Krishna district Collector MD Imtiaz said on Sunday.
విజయవాడలో ఒక హోటల్లో జరిగిన ప్రమాద ఘటనపై సీఎం శ్రీ వైయస్.జగన్ దిగ్భ్రాంతి వ్యక్తం చేశారు. ఒక ప్రైవేటు ఆస్పత్రి ఈ హోటల్ను లీజుకు తీసుకుందని, అందులో కరోనా వైరస్ సోకిన పేషెంట్లను పెట్టినట్టుగా ప్రాథమిక విచారణలో వెల్లడైందని అధికారులు సీఎంకు వెల్లడించారు.
— CMO Andhra Pradesh (@AndhraPradeshCM) August 9, 2020
Ten people were killed in the mishap, Vijayawada Police Commissioner B Srinivasulu said.
All the victims were patients undergoing treatment there, according to Deputy CM (Health) A K K Srinivas.
Twenty people have been rescued.
The hotel leased by a private hospital to treat coronavirus patients had “violated” safety rules, according to Fire Safety Director Jairam Naik.
Fire accident at a hotel in Vijayawada where #COVID19 patients were staying.. several casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/aGFTJeO8Zk
— Pramod Madhav (@PramodMadhav6) August 9, 2020
It will face action as investigation has been initiated, he said.
The Andhra Pradesh government announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 50 lakh each to the kin of the 10 victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy over the phone and enquired about the incident.
Reddy told Modi that a private hospital had taken the star hotel on lease to treat COVID-19 patients. The PM assured all possible help and support to the families of the victims, a release from the CMO said.
State Home Minister M Sucharita said an electrical short circuit appeared to be the possible cause of the fire mishap in the wee hours of Sunday.
There were 40 coronavirus positive persons undergoing treatment at the private facility. There were 10 staff members of the private hospital that was running the COVID Care Centre (CCC).
According to sources in the AP Disaster Response and Fire Services Department, the fire apparently broke out due to an electrical short circuit in the hotel”s front lobby and spread to the first and second floors.
As there was only one main stairway, the panicked patients tried to escape to safety using the stairway after they noticed the smoke.
“They should have actually used a different stairway on the rear side and that would have saved their lives. Unfortunately, they used the main one in a panicky situation and got caught in the fire,” a Fire official said.
Since there was no other option, the Fire and NDRF personnel used ladders to bring down other people, stranded inside the hotel, to safety.
The dead included patients admitted for treatment there.
The rescued patients were shifted to another CCC on MG Road in the city.
Fire Safety officer Jairam Naik said the hotel had “violated” fire safety rules.
“The fire alarm did not go off at the time of the accident and there was a delay in opening the rear door. Investigation has been initiated and there will be action against the hotel management,” he added.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the fire mishap at Swarana Palace hotel in Vijayawada and enquired about the cause of the accident. He directed the concerned officials to take up the rescue measures and admit the injured in nearby hospitals. He had also instructed officials to conduct inquiries over the accident. The fire accident took place in the hotel which was taken on lease and run by a private hospital to treat COVID patients.
In his message to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the fire at the Covid Centre in Vijayawada. He said “Anguished by the fire at a Covid Centre in Vijayawada. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. Discussed the prevailing situation with AP CM @ysjagan Ji and assured all possible support”.
Anguished by the fire at a Covid Centre in Vijayawada. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. Discussed the prevailing situation with AP CM @ysjagan Ji and assured all possible support.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2020
Deeply anguished by the news of tragic fire accident at a COVID-19 facility in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Centre assures all possible support to the state govt. My condolences are with the affected families in this time of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) August 9, 2020
More details are awaited.
