Palghar, Apr 23 (UNI) With one more patient succumbing to the blaze which erupted early Friday at the ICU of the Vijay Vallabh Hospital, a COVID facility in Virar town, the number of fatalities in the inferno climbed to 14.
Talking to UNI, SDM Vasai Swapnil Tangde told, 'While 13 of the 17 COVID patients being treated at the ICU were charred to death, one of them died while being shifted to another hospital following the fire.'
The deceased has been identified as Shivaji Vilkar (56), he told, adding that remaining three are being treated at other hospitals.
There were a total of 83 Covid patients in the hospital when the fire broke out following an explosion in the central AC unit at the second floor which housed the ICU.
Immediately upon the incident, the Guardian Ministers of Thane and Palghar Eknath Shinde and Dada Bhuse, respectively, rushed to the smoky scene.
Also the state Urban Development Minister, Mr Shinde held an urgent meeting with the officials and declared that the Vasai Virar civic body would give Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of deceased.
The state and the Centre have also announced ex-gratia against the fatalities. The Minister also ordered immediate fire and electric audit of all the hospitals in the civic limits.
A vigilance squad will also be set up for the audit besides seeking advice from the experts, he added.
Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the recommendations of the inquiry committee would be implemented immediately.
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