The overnight toll in the massive fire that broke out in the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Kamgar Hospital in Andheri (East) in Mumbai on Monday evening has gone up to eight, said a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Control official in Mumbai on Tuesday while many are in a critical condition.
A majority of the eight fatalities occurred due to suffocation while one person is stated to have jumped from the third floor of the hospital to his death in a state of panic.
A total of 176 patients, staff members, and others were rescued after a fire broke out on Monday evening at the (ESIC) Hospital which is situated in Marol Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area, an industrial hub of the north-western suburb.
While 142 continue their treatment in over half a dozen public and private hospitals, 26 have been discharged so far, said an official.
(Photo: IANS)
The fire was first noticed near the Operation Theatre of the five-storey hospital.
The blaze, which is suspected to have been caused by a short-circuit, quickly spread horizontally and vertically, trapping around 155 people in the building with a glass facade.
While the firemen used ladders, other rescuers deployed ropes and saris tied as ropes to bring down the wailing and screaming people trapped on the third and fourth floors.
The ESIC Kamgar Hospital staff staged a protest on Tuesday alleging inadequate facilities in the hospital.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has spoken to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar to get updates about the rescue and relief operations.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an enquiry into the fire at ESIC Hospital. The CM also spoke to PM Modi. He expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of injured and assured all assistance.
(With agency inputs)