Indus Valley Times

Maharashtra,Nov 6: As many as 11 Covid-19 patients died after a fire broke out at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a government hospital in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on Saturday.

Ahmednagar district collector Rajendra Bhosale has ordered an inquiry into this incident. Bhosale told media persons that the fire reportedly broke out at around 10.30 am at the Covid ward in the new building of the civil hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished by the deaths. Modi tweeted, “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also expressed his condolences over the deaths and said that stern action will be taken against those found guilty of negligence. He also asked the district collector to carry out a thorough probe and submit a report.

Earlier, the CM had asked Guardian Minister Hasan Mushrif and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte to closely monitor the situation. He told them that all possible help should be extended to those who were injured in the fire and are undergoing treatment now.

There were 17 patients at the Covid ward at that time. Initially, 10 had patients died in the fire while seven others were shifted. Out of the seven, one patient who was critical died later.

The deceased patients have been identified as Sitaram Dagdu Jadhav (83) of Bakhtapur, Shevgaon, Bhivaji Sadashiv Pawar (80) of Kinhi village in Parner, Ramkisan Vitthal Harpude (70) of Maka village in Nevasa, Kondabai Madhukar Kadam (70) of Kedgaon, Chababi Ahmed Sayyad (65) of Shendi, Satyabhama Shivaji Ghodchaure (65) of Telkudgaon in Nevasa, Kadubal Gangadhar Khatik (65) of Patharvala in Nevasa, Asrabai Govind Nangare (58) of Shevgaon, Deepak Vishwanath Jagdale (37) of Sangamner and one 58-year-old man whose details are yet to be known.

-NIE