VIJAYAWADA: At least 7 people died after a fire broke out in a hotel turned into Covid-19 care centre by a private hospital at Vijayawada at around 5am on Sunday. About 30 Covid-19 patients were being treated at the time of the incident. Electric short circuit is said to be the cause of fire according to preliminary estimate.
Swarna Palace hotel situated on Eluru Road was taken on lease by Ramesh Hospital to treat Covid-19 patients. About 30 patients were admitted in the Swarna Palace in last two weeks by the hospital. About 10 para medical staff were assisting them at the time of the incident. Most of the deaths have taken place due to suffocation due to smoke according to officials. As Covid-19 patients were already suffering with respiratory problems, thick smoke further aggravated their situation. Many of the patients screamed for help from the windows of hotel rooms.
According to the Vijayawada city police commissioner B Srinivasulu, the fire first broke out in the ground floor at near reception area and spread fast to the first floor. The visual captured by the bystanders also showed huge fire at the reception area which soon broke out from the other end of the hotel building.
Srinivasulu said that they have rescued about 30 people and the fire was brought under control within 25 minutes. He said the control room received an SOS at around 5:15am. The fire and quick response teams rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation he said. The patients were brought out using ladders as the stair cases engulfed in fire and there is no external fire exit available.
Fire personnel broke open the windows to rescue the victims. The Covid-19 patients were rushed to other hospitals in special ambulances. The chief minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy expressed shock over the incident and directed the officials to extend all possible help to the victims. He ordered a probe into the incident and asked the officials to submit a report.
Krishna district collector A Md Imtiaz and endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas visited the spot and took stock of the rescue operation.
Swarna Palace hotel situated on Eluru Road was taken on lease by Ramesh Hospital to treat Covid-19 patients. About 30 patients were admitted in the Swarna Palace in last two weeks by the hospital. About 10 para medical staff were assisting them at the time of the incident. Most of the deaths have taken place due to suffocation due to smoke according to officials. As Covid-19 patients were already suffering with respiratory problems, thick smoke further aggravated their situation. Many of the patients screamed for help from the windows of hotel rooms.
According to the Vijayawada city police commissioner B Srinivasulu, the fire first broke out in the ground floor at near reception area and spread fast to the first floor. The visual captured by the bystanders also showed huge fire at the reception area which soon broke out from the other end of the hotel building.
Srinivasulu said that they have rescued about 30 people and the fire was brought under control within 25 minutes. He said the control room received an SOS at around 5:15am. The fire and quick response teams rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation he said. The patients were brought out using ladders as the stair cases engulfed in fire and there is no external fire exit available.
Fire personnel broke open the windows to rescue the victims. The Covid-19 patients were rushed to other hospitals in special ambulances. The chief minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy expressed shock over the incident and directed the officials to extend all possible help to the victims. He ordered a probe into the incident and asked the officials to submit a report.
Krishna district collector A Md Imtiaz and endowments minister Vellampalli Srinivas visited the spot and took stock of the rescue operation.
More News
7. Is it time to reopen schools?
Family loyalists slam dissenters, say timing of letter ‘insensitive’ | India News – Times of India
Filipina beauty queen distributes homemade desserts to support her family – BeautyPageants