Fire breaks out at Virar hospital leaving 13 COVID-19 patients dead

A fire broke out at a hospital in Virar leading to deaths of as many as 13 people. The fire broke out early Friday morning at Vijay Vallabh Hospital in Virar in Mumbai. As per hospital CEO Dr Dilip Jain, 13 people have lost their lives in the blaze.

The fire at Vijay Vallabh Hospital started at 3:15 am. Fire fighters rushed in and extinguished the fire by 5:30 am. The blaze started due to a short-circuit in the air conditioner in the intensive care unit (ICU).

According to the fire department, there were 17 coronavirus patients in the ICU. The five who survived have been moved elsewhere.

The private hospital has been functioning as a coronavirus hospital.

This is the second incident of a mishap in a hospital in Maharashtra in less than a week. Earlier this week, 24 patients died after oxygen leaked from a tanker at Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik. Oxygen supply was cut for around 30 minutes due to which the deaths took place. "The tragedy at a hospital in Nashik because of oxygen tank leakage is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. Condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour," PM Modi said in a tweet.

Also read: 24 patients die in Nashik hospital after oxygen leak from tanker

Also read: Nashik oxygen leak: Heart-wrenching tragedy, says PM; Amit Shah condoles loss of lives