A fire broke out at Patel Welfare Hospital in Bharuch, Gujarat at around 1 am on Saturday leaving sixteen dead, sixteen patients and two nurses died from the fire.

The patients died due to the fire and thick smoke from the fire choking them according to the Bharuch Superintendent of Police Rajendrasinh Chudasama.  “As per information at 6.30 am, the death count in the tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths,” a police official told PTI.

There were approximately 70 patients admitted at the four-storeyed hospital, of which 24 were in the intensive care unit.   All the survivors were rescued by firefighters and locals and have now been transferred to nearby hospitals.

While the fire was controlled within an hour, the cause of it is yet to be determined, an official said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani tweeted to express his condolences and announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the victims’ families. CM Vijay Rupani said “I express my condolences to the patients, doctors and hospital staff who lost their lives in the fire accident at Bharuch Hospital. The state government will provide assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each of the victims of the accident.”

The COVID-19 designated hospital is located on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, about 190 km from Gujarat’s capital Ahmedabad, run by a trust.

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