Mumbai: 15 Covid patients charred to death as AC blast sparks fire in Virar hosp

Mumbai: Fifteen Covid-19 patients, including six women, were charred to death after a fire broke out in the second-floor intensive care unit (ICU) of the 90-bed Vijay Vallabh hospital in Virar early on Friday. Two other ICU patients who were rescued are serious, doctor said. The tragedy came just two days after 22 Covid patients died in a Nashik hospital after an oxygen tank leak.

The management of the Virar hospital, doctors and staff were booked by the Arnala coastal police on Friday evening for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the non-bailable Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. Other IPC sections applied are 337, 338 (causing hurt by act so rash or negligent as to endanger life) and 34 (common intention), DCP of Mira-Bhayander Vasai -Virar zone 2 Sanjay Patil said. No arrests had been made till the time of going to press.

Seventy other Covid patients on the hospital’s first, third and fourth floors rushed out of the building, some helped by the hospital staff. The patients alleged there were only two nurses, two ward boys and one doctor on the night shift. None of them sustained any injuries. The ICU was charred beyond recognition.

A blast in the air-conditioner unit of the ICU of the four -storey hospital in Bolinj, Virar (West), is believed to have caused the fire. Sparks fell on the patients’ beds and set these ablaze, fire officials said. The ICU did not have the mandatory sprinkler systems, the officials said.

Mumbai: Fifteen Covid-19 patients, including six women, were charred to death after a fire broke out in the second-floor intensive care unit (ICU) of the 90-bed Vijay Vallabh hospital in Virar early on Friday. Two other ICU patients who were rescued are serious, doctor said. The tragedy came just two days after 22 Covid patients died in a Nashik hospital after an oxygen tank leak.

The management of the Virar hospital, doctors and staff were booked by the Arnala coastal police on Friday evening for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the non-bailable Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. Other IPC sections applied are 337, 338 (causing hurt by act so rash or negligent as to endanger life) and 34 (common intention), DCP of Mira-Bhayander Vasai -Virar zone 2 Sanjay Patil said. No arrests had been made till the time of going to press.

Seventy other Covid patients on the hospital’s first, third and fourth floors rushed out of the building, some helped by the hospital staff. The patients alleged there were only two nurses, two ward boys and one doctor on the night shift. None of them sustained any injuries. The ICU was charred beyond recognition.

A blast in the air-conditioner unit of the ICU of the four -storey hospital in Bolinj, Virar (West), is believed to have caused the fire. Sparks fell on the patients’ beds and set these ablaze, fire officials said. The ICU did not have the mandatory sprinkler systems, the officials said.

Mumbai: Fifteen Covid-19 patients, including six women, were charred to death after a fire broke out in the second-floor intensive care unit (ICU) of the 90-bed Vijay Vallabh hospital in Virar early on Friday. Two other ICU patients who were rescued are serious, doctor said. The tragedy came just two days after 22 Covid patients died in a Nashik hospital after an oxygen tank leak.

The management of the Virar hospital, doctors and staff were booked by the Arnala coastal police on Friday evening for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under the non-bailable Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. Other IPC sections applied are 337, 338 (causing hurt by act so rash or negligent as to endanger life) and 34 (common intention), DCP of Mira-Bhayander Vasai -Virar zone 2 Sanjay Patil said. No arrests had been made till the time of going to press.

Seventy other Covid patients on the hospital’s first, third and fourth floors rushed out of the building, some helped by the hospital staff. The patients alleged there were only two nurses, two ward boys and one doctor on the night shift. None of them sustained any injuries. The ICU was charred beyond recognition.

A blast in the air-conditioner unit of the ICU of the four -storey hospital in Bolinj, Virar (West), is believed to have caused the fire. Sparks fell on the patients’ beds and set these ablaze, fire officials said. The ICU did not have the mandatory sprinkler systems, the officials said.