As many as 10 bodies have been recovered from the COVID-19 hospital housed in a mall in Mumbai. After the incident, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asked for forgiveness from the kin of the dead and said how some people who died could not be saved despite efforts because they were on ventilators. The news is a tragic one amid the rising COVID-19 cases that Maharashtra has been reporting since the last month.

The incident happened in a mall called Dream Mall located in Bhandup. The mall, which houses a COVID-19 treatment facility called Sunrise Hospital, saw a fire break on its 1st floor at around 12.30 AM on Friday morning. As soon as the news of the fire broke, over 24 fire extinguishing vehicles were called for the extinguishing and rescue operation. This fleet of vehicles consisted of 14 fire engines and 10 water tankers. The officials from the hospital claim that the fire alarms were set off by the smoke of fire and soon the patients were evacuated.

According to reports, as many as 70 COVID-19 patients were taking treatment in the Sunrise Hospital.

After the incident, 30 COVID-19 positive patients were taken to the Mulund Jumbo Centre, another COVID-19 treatment hospital. Among these 30 patients, 4 patients are in a grave condition – 2 being shifted to the ICU, and 2 on oxygen support. The remaining patients were shifted to different COVID-19 treatment facilities. Those who were COVID-19 negative were transferred to Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

As the firefighters were doing their part in carrying out fire control and rescue operation, Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Thackeray went to the place of incident and spoke to the media. Mr. Thackeray said how in Mumbai’s attempt to fight the COVID-19, the CM had allowed the Sunrise Hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. He also added that the hospital’s permission to treat COVID-19 patients would have expired this month on 31st.

The Mumbai Chief Minister also assured that whoever stands at fault in this incident would be brought to justice. “Firefighters did a great job in rescuing people. However, some people who were on ventilators could not be rescued. I seek forgiveness from their families,” Mr. Thackeray said, adding that the kind of those affected will receive a compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs from the state.

After the dust was settled in the morning, the Sunrise Hospital issued a statement. The hospital in its statement said how the fire was broken in the 1st floor of the Dreams Mall and the smoke of the fire reached to the Sunrise Hospital that was at the top floor of the mall.

“There were two dead bodies (due to Covid), which were also evacuated. There was no casualty due to fire. All patients were promptly shifted to Jumbo Covid Centre (and some to other private hospitals). We are grateful to Mumbai fire brigade and to Mumbai Police for helping us save lives. This hospital was started in exceptional circumstances of Covid last year and has helped in saving many patients from Covid deaths. It is functioning with all due compliances like fire license, nursing home licence. The hospital staff did a fantastic job in safely evacuating patients on wheel chairs and beds to the refuge areas and by following the fire drills,” the statement of the hospital added.

After the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences to the family of the people who lost their lives in the incident.

On Friday Morning, Kishore Pednekar, Mumbai Mayor was quoted by news agency ANI saying, “This is the first time I have seen a hospital in a mall. This is a very serious situation. Seven patients were on ventilators. 70 patients have been taken to another hospital. There will be an investigation to confirm the cause of the fire.”

According to news agency PTI, Dream Mall received a notice from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in November, 2020 for disregard of fire safety norms.

 

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