Hours after the death of 14 coronavirus patients in a fire at a hospital in Maharashtra, state health minister Rajesh Tope was asked by reporters if this matter would be raised at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with chief ministers today. “It’s not a national news,” Mr Tope replied, saying the supply of oxygen, anti-viral drug Remdesivir would be discussed at the COVID-19 review meeting instead as Maharashtra battles a rapid surge in cases. With a total caseload of over 40 lakh infections, it is the worst-hit state.
“In today’s meeting with the Prime Minister, we will talk about oxygen, Remdesivir, an adequate quantity of vaccines for the State…also the Virar fire incident, it is not national news. The state government will provide financial assistance to those affected,” Minister Rajesh Tope told a posse of reporters asking if the hospital deaths will be taken up at the meeting.
“The state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh and the Mahanagar Palika will also provide Rs 5 lakhs,” the minister said.
Tope further said that there will a detailed investigation into the matter and the culprits will be punished.
13 coronavirus patients died after the blaze in the intensive care unit (ICU) located on the second floor of the four-storeyed Vijay Vallabh Hospital at Virar in the early hours of Friday. Five women and eight men died in the incident. There were 90 patients in the hospital, 18 of them in the ICU, when the fire broke out after a blast in the AC unit.
“13 people have died after a fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) around 3am today. 21 patients including those in critical condition have been shifted to another hospital,” Dr. Dilip Shah, official, Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital, Virar told ANI. The private-run hospital was turned into a dedicated Covid facility.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced a financial assistance of Rs five lakh each to the families of 13 COVID-19 patients who died in the tragedy. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said those who suffered serious injuries in the incident will be given Rs 1 lakh compensation each.