Braving Covid in ICU, only to perish in fire

In a heart-wrenching incident, at least 11 COVID-19 patients were killed and seven sustained burn injuries on Saturday after a major fire broke out in the ICU ward of the civil hospital in Ahmednagar.

- SANJAY JOG

Most of those who perished were between 65 and 83 years of age. Among the seven injured, two are critical and the remaining are in a stable condition. A short circuit seems to be the primary cause of the fire; by an uncanny coincidence, it was a curious replay of what happened on April 23 this year, when during the second wave of the pandemic, 13 Covid patients died when a blaze engulfed the ICU of the Vijay Vallabh Hospital in Virar.

The Fire Brigade personnel had a hard time dousing the fire at Ahmednagar civil hospital as they could not enter through the main entrance due to smoke, and the windows had grills over them. Finally, amid panic, cries and chaos, fire brigade personnel broke the window panes and doused the flames with the help of water cannons.

The Maharashtra government has announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the deceased.