5 die in Chhattisgarh Covid hospital fire

Raipur, April 18

The authorities have ordered an investigation after five Covid patients died in a fire at a private hospital in Chhattisgarh’s capital city Raipur, the police said on Sunday.

Raipur Collector Dr S Bharathi Dasan has ordered an investigation into the incident. Officials have been directed to conduct safety check at Covid hospitals in the city. The fire broke out at Raipur’s Rajdhani hospital on Saturday, the police said.

“Five patients died in the incident. One was charred to death and the others died due to suffocation,” a police official said, adding a case of negligence would be registered against the owners of the hospital.

A supervisor saw smoke coming out of the ward and informed the hospital authorities, who alerted the police. The fire brigade and hospital staff rescued the other patients. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. — PTI

Help bereaved families: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday appealed to the Chhattisgarh government to provide all help to the bereaved families. “My condolences to the families who lost their loved ones,” he said.