The Dreams Mall Sunrise Hospital in Mumbai after the fire broke out
Mumbai: A fire broke out at the Dreams Mall Sunrise Hospital in Bhandup area shortly after midnight, killing 10. Many others were evacuated after the fire at the hospital hospital located in a Mumbai mall, the BMC said on Friday.
Out of the 78 patients who were in the affected are, 46 have been traced. A police official said that the fire broke out shortly after midnight.
The hospital is situated on the third floor of the five-storeyed mall building and many patients including those being treated for COVID-19 were at the hospital when the fire broke out, the official said.
The incident has caused particular worry among the health care sector, as it coincides with a considerable spurt in Covid cases in Mumbai in particular and in the state of Maharashtra in general.
On Thursday, the city reported 5,504 new infections, the highest daily count since the pandemic began.
The police official said two patients had died in the blaze, but the BMC later confirmed that the death toll is now six. The cause of the 'level four' fire (serious emergency call in fire brigade parlance) has not been ascertained yet, the control room sources said.
Around 20 fire engines, 15 water tankers and ambulances were pressed into operation at the spot. Fire fighting operation was underway, the official said.
Patients were evacuated by the fire brigade and shifted to another hospital, officials said who added that fire personnel were checking if any patient is still stuck in the hospital.
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar who visited the site expressed surprise that a hospital was operating inside the mall.
"I have seen a hospital at a mall for the first time," the mayor said, adding action will be taken if irregularities were found in allowing the facility to operate there.
Chief minister Thackeray visits the place, apologises
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed regret and said he apologised for the accident and assured strict action against those responsible.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the mall, Thackeray apologised to the families of the victims and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of each deceased.
Thackeray said the fire did not break out in the hospital, but at some office or shop situated below it.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the mall, Thackeray apologised to the families of the victims and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of each deceased.
Thackeray said the fire did not break out in the hospital, but at some office or shop situated below it.
The chief minister said the state government had last year allowed some hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients given the spread of the disease and the said that the facility in the Bhandup mall was one of them.
"The permission was to end on March 31. Unfortunately, the fire broke on the first floor of the mall and spread upwards," he said.
The chief minister said that efforts were made to rescue all the patients admitted at the hospital.
However, it took some time to evacuate those who were on ventilators. "Unfortunately, they died," he said.
(Based on PTI feed)