10 dead in fire at hotel being used as Covid facility in Vijayawada

Vijayawada (AP): At least 10 people died after a massive fire broke out in a COVID-19 facility in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday morning. As per the latest reports, at least 20 people have been rescued from the building. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced Rs 50 lakh ex gratia each to the families of those who lost their lives in the fire.

According to police reports, the fire broke out at a star hotel which has been hired by a major corporate hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. At around 5:30 am, the fire department was informed about the incident and two fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Ten people were killed in the mishap, Vijayawada Police Commissioner B Srinivasulu said.

All the victims were patients undergoing treatment there, according to Deputy CM (Health) AKK Srinivas.

The hotel leased by a private hospital to treat Coronavirus patients had 'violated' safety rules, according to Fire Safety Director Jairam Naik. It will face action as the investigation has been initiated, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy over the phone and enquired about the incident.

Reddy told Modi that a private hospital had taken the star hotel on lease to treat COVID-19 patients. The Prime Minister assured all possible help and support to the families of the victims, a release from the CMO said.

State Home minister M Sucharita said an electrical short circuit appeared to be the possible cause of the fire mishap.

There were 40 Coronavirus positive persons undergoing treatment at the private facility. Ten staff members of the private hospital were running the Covid Care Centre (CCC).

According to sources in the AP Disaster Response and Fire Services Department, the fire broke out due to an electrical short circuit in the hotel's front lobby and spread to the first and second floors.

As there was only one main stairway, the panicked patients tried to escape to safety using the stairway after they noticed the smoke.

"They should have actually used a different stairway on the rear side and that would have saved their lives.

"Unfortunately, they used the main one in a panicky situation and got caught in the fire," a fire official said.

Since there was no other option, the fire and NDRF personnel used ladders to bring down other people, stranded inside the hotel, to safety.

The dead included patients admitted for treatment there. The rescued patients were shifted to another CCC on MG Road in the city.

"The fire alarm did not go off at the time of the accident and there was a delay in opening the rear door.

"Investigation has been initiated and there will be action against the hotel management," Naik added.