At least three patients died in a fire at a private hospital near Thane in early hours of Wednesday, said an official. The fire broke out at the Prime Criticare Hospital at Kausa in Mumbra locality near Thane at 3.40 am. He added there were no coronavirus patients in the hospital.
Five ambulances and three fire engines were rushed to the spot and the blaze has been extinguished, the official informed. He said, twenty patients, including six, in the intensive care unit were evacuated.
Local MLA and Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad told reporters at the scene that at least three persons were roasted alive in the fire that destroyed the first floor of the hospital. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was informed of the tragedy, he said.
He further added, the family of each deceased will be given a compensation of Rs. five lakh and those injured will get Rs one lakh each.
A high-level enquiry committee has been constituted to go into the cause of the fire, he said. Committee will have officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation and also the police and medical officials.
Fifteen Covid-19 patients died after a fire broke out at the intensive care unit of a private hospital at Virar in the adjoining Palghar district on April 23.
