11 killed in fire at Mumbai hospital, CM Uddhav Thackeray seeks apology

A major fire broke out at a dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Mumbai’s Bhandup area on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. Several patients were evacuated as the smoke spread into Sunrise Hospital located on the third floor of Dreams mall. BMC tweeted that the toll had risen to 11. At least 11 people have died while 20 people have been evacuated after a major fire broke out in Sunrise Hospital of Dreams Mall in Bhandup. Fourteen fire engines and 10 jumbo water tankers reached the spot to reduce the fire. More than 70 patients, including seven on ventilator support, were rescued and shifted to a different hospital.

Approximately 70 of them Covid-19 patients were shifted out of the hospital as soon as the fire was reported, said BMC officials. BMC said, “A massive fire was reported late last night at Sunrise Hospital in Dreams Mall at Bhandup West. Several patients were shifted to different hospitals. A search and rescue operation by Mumbai Fire Brigade was still going on and eleven deaths have been confirmed so far.”

The statement from the hospital said, “There was a fire on the first floor of Dreams Mall, Bhandup where the smoke reached the Sunrise Hospital located at the top floor. All fire alarms beeped due to which all patients were safely evacuated to the fire refuge area.” The fire extinguishing team is still trying to curb down the fire with least number of casualties.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has sought forgiveness from the families of those who died, and said that they will get compensation of ₹ 5 lakh each. “The firefighters did a great job in rescuing people. However… some who were on ventilators could not be rescued. I seek forgiveness from their families,” Thackeray told reporters Friday after visiting the scene of the disaster.

Thackeray said preliminary reports suggested the fire originated at a shop in the mall and not in the hospital itself: “I want to assure you that whoever is at fault… they will be punished.”

“We have been fighting against the coronavirus for the past year. When the pandemic hit the state, there were very few beds and ventilators, but we continued our fight and set up temporary hospitals. This hospital was temporarily allowed to treat coronavirus patients,” he explained.