AMN
At least 9 people died and several others injured after a fire broke out in a hotel turned Covid-19 care centre at Vijayawada this morning. About 30 Covid-19 patients were being treated and 10 para medical staff were assisting them at the time of the tragedy. Electric short circuit is suspected to be the cause of fire according to preliminary reports.
Most of the deaths have taken place due to suffocation from smoke, according to officials. The rescued patients have been shifted to nearby Covid Centers. Condition of two more persons is said to be critical.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagamohan Reddy has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 50 Lakh to the families of those killed in the accident. The CM also directed officials to take necessary steps to provide better medical facilities to the victims and also ordered an enquiry on the accident.
Shocked and distressed by the news of the fire accident, Prime Minister Narendra modi had called Andhra Pradesh Shri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over phone to express his grief and shock and assured him of all the assistance.
NDRF teams have joined the local authorities, Fire and Police department officials in relief operations.
Shri G Kishan Reddy, MoS Home Affairs Reacts and the Governor of AP Shri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan have expressed grief over the tragedy.
AP DGP Gowtham Sawang has visited the accident site and made an on the spot enquiry.
An ex-gratia of 2 lakh rupees each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund has been announced to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the fire at a Covid centre in Vijayawada. In a tweet, the Prime Minister’s Office said, 50 thousand rupees each would be given to those injured due to the fire.