10 Covid patients killed in fire at ICU of Maharashtra hospital

Ahmednagar: At least ten covid patients were burnt to death and 15 others injured after a fire broke out in the ICU (intensive care unit) of the Civil Hospital in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar at around 11 am today.

Four fire-tenders have rushed to battle the blaze which has spread to other adjoining wards with attempts underway to control the flames, said an official of the Ahmednagar Police Control.

The remaining patients have been shifted to a Covid ward in another hospital, District Collector Dr Rajendra Bhosle told reporters, adding that a 'fire audit' of the structure had been conducted.

The cause of the blaze, which has now been extinguished, is as yet unknown, but preliminary investigations by the fire department suggest it started due to an electrical short circuit, Dr Bhosle said.

At the time of the incident, there were at least 20 patients undergoing treatment in the ICU and scores of anxious relatives rushed to the hospital for details on their near and dear ones.

Though the horrific fire was brought under control around 1 p.m., eyewitnesses said the entire ICU has been reduced to a heap of burnt rubble, and the casualty figures could further increase.

Senior police, district and fire brigade officials have reached the spot and are supervising the rescue and relief operations, while the cause of the blaze, tentatively suspected to be a short-circuit, is being probed.

(further details are awaited.)