Death toll rises in Andhra Pradesh Covid-19 facility fire

The death toll in the Covid-19 facility fire in Vijaywada city of India’s Andhra Pradesh in India has risen to nine. There were reportedly 30 coronavirus patients at the hotel facility at the time of the accident on Sunday morning.

The fire broke out at 5am, officials said, adding that it was brought under control within 30 minutes. The fire is suspected to have started on ground floor and spread to first and second floor, officials said.

The fire had led to panic among the patients admitted in the facility; two people had reportedly jumped off the building to save their lives, as per officials.

The relative of one of them said the person had been shifted just two days ago from the hospital to the hotel facility for quarantine. He has reportedly suffered ankle fracture.

Twenty people have been rescued from the hotel so far, police said, adding that a few more are feared trapped inside the building.

"The incident took place around 5 am. Around 22 patients are being treated in hospital. We are evacuating the entire building. The reason of fire appears to be a short circuit, as per the preliminary report, but we will have to ascertain this," said Krishna District Collector Mohammad Imtiaz.

Hotel Swarna Palace had been taken on lease by Ramesh hospitals to house Covid patients.

"15-20 people have been injured in the incident. They have been rushed to hospital. 2-3 of them are critical," a senior police officer told NDTV.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and grief over the incident. He has instructed officials to conduct enquiry over the matter. The state government has announced a compensation of ₹ 50 lakh for family of those killed.