Thick fumes enveloped the hotel which has been
turned as a Coronavirus treatment facility, and at least 10 have been confirmed
deaths; PM Modi Andhra Pradesh CM announces relief.
In the early hours of Sunday, a
massive fire broke out at a hotel in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada, which had been turned into a COVID facility to
treat patients. A private hospital had leased the hotel called Hotel Swarna
Palace in Vijayawada, to treat and cure the infected Coronavirus patients. The
reason for the cause of the fire was revealed to be a short circuit, which has
led to the death of ten patients.
PM Modi says all possible
support is being provided to the Andhra Pradesh CM:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter to condole the mishap and said that he discussed the situation with Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. He wrote that he was anguished by the fire at a COVID centre in Vijayawada. He sent his condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for the recovery of those who were injured. PM Modi offered all possible support to the CM of Andhra Pradesh.
Jagan Mohan Reddy announces
ex-gratia of INR 50 lakhs for the kin of the deceased in Vijayawada Fire:
Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed
his shock over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of INR 50 lakhs to the
family of the deceased and ordered an in-depth investigation of the fire
accident. He also urged the authorities to update their prevailing fire safety
measures and take steps to ensure better medical services to the victims of the
tragic incident. In the initial investigation, the police revealed that a short
circuit in an air-conditioner on the ground floor led to the fire in the hotel.
As the fire’s flames spread to the upper floors, a minimum of seven patients
panicked, rushed, and jumped from the terrace. The thick fumes enveloped the
hotel and asphyxiated two other patients. Remaining patients have been shifted
to nearby government hospitals, stated District Collector Imtiaz Ahmed.