Five Covid-19 patients have died and six patients were injured after a fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) of a coronavirus designated hospital in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Friday.

The fire broke out in Uday Shivanand COVID Hospital around 1 am on Friday. There were 33 patients in the hospital including 11 patients in the ICU. Three of them died on the spot, and while other two died during the treatment after being shifted to other COVID-19 hospitals, the fire officials said.

Twenty-eight other coronavirus patients undergoing treatment were rescued, and relocated to Gokul hospital, the official added. While local authorities believed that the blaze started from the ICU, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to next of kin of those who died in the incident. He has also ordered a probe into the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences to lives lost in the unfortunate tragedy and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured. He said that the administration would ensure all possible assistance to those affected.

Rajkot chief fire official Bhika Theba said the fire was put out within 30 to 35 minutes, adding that the fire could have started by electric short circuit.

There was sparking in the ICU, leading to the fire. The hospital staff tried to douse the fire, but it spread further, after which the fire department was informed, said Rajkot municipal commissioner Udit Agarwal. The hospital staff had not suffered any major injury in the incident, he added.

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In August, 8 people were killed in a massive fire that erupted at a hospital in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. The fire broke out in the ICU on the fourth floor of the privately-owned Shrey hospital.

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