11 Covid patients killed in AP fire

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, August 9

Eleven persons died in a fire that broke out around 5 am in a hotel hired by a private hospital to be used as a Covid isolation centre in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday.

The fire erupted in the reception area and spread to the upper floors, charring a person to death. Others were asphyxiated. People were seen jumping from the first and second floors to save themselves.

There were around 40 people, including 30 Covid patients and 10 employees of the hospital and the hotel.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has announced a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each for the next of kin and booked both the hospital and hotel managements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of the lives and spoke to Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy over phone and enquired about the accident. The PM assured support to the victims’ families.

Vijayawada Police Commissioner B Srinivasulu said the incident took place at Hotel Swarna Palace, being used as a Covid centre by Ramesh Hospital, a private institute.

The CM has sought a probe report in two days. Expressing condolences, he said the guilty wouldn’t be spared.

After the fire was contained by local firefighters, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuated those stranded inside using ladders. The NDRF men were also seen carrying bodies out of the hotel wearing PPE kits and other safety equipment.

The initial report stated that the hotel, which has a six-storey building, did not have safety clearances. However, the details will be known only after the inquiry report is completed.