Please forgive me: CM Thackeray to families of hospital fire victims

Image Courtesy:news.abplive.com

Ten lives have been lost in the devastating fire that broke out Sunrise Hospital, Dream Mall in Bhandup, Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that action will be taken against those who are found responsible. He visited the spot and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the victims. Those who died were critically ill and were on ventilator support.  

Thackeray also sought forgiveness of the families of victims, and has directed authorities to conduct fire safety checks in malls or other structures across the state where hospitals are being set up for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. He has promised that strict action will be taken against all those responsible for negligence and delay in this regard.

According to news reports, the fire broke out on the first floor of the Dreams Mall just before midnight on Thursday March 25, and reached the Sunrise Hospital, a private Covid-19 hospital, located on the top floor of the building. According to reports the Brihanmumbai Municipal corporation (BMC) confirmed that the death toll in the fire incident had risen to 10 on Friday, and that three bodies are yet to be identified. Disturbing images of the inferno flooded social media as did those of politicians visiting the site. The police said that it was a ‘level four’ fire, which is a serious emergency call, and a probe was on to ascertain its cause. Over 20 fire engines, 15 water tankers and ambulances were rushed to the spot. 

The Hindustan Times reported that, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar who visited the site expressed surprise that a hospital was operating inside the mall, saying, “I have seen a hospital at a mall for the first time.” The mayor added that “action will be taken if irregularities were found in allowing the facility to operate there.”

The hospital, however, issued a media statement on its part that said that it is functioning with all due compliances like fire licence, and nursinghome licence. It also claimed that the bodies were of those who had died of Covid-19. The hospital stated, “There was a fire on the first floor of Dreams Mall, Bhandup and the smoke reached up to the Sunrise Hospital located on the top floor. When fire alarms beeped, all patients were safely evacuated to the fire refuge area as the smoke was reaching the hospital.”

According to some news reports, the BMC had issued notice to the mall in November last year for allegedly flouting fire safety norms. Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Sanjay Dina Patil was also reported to have said that he had written to the BMC commissioner last year drawing attention to the alleged flouting of fire safety norms there. The Covid-19 hospital is on the top floor of this three-storey mall. Patients who were rescued have been shifted to the Covid-19 field hospital in Mulund and Fortis Hospital, stated a report in the DNA. 

In December 2020, the Supreme Court Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah had issued a set of guidelines for the States over hospital fire incidents and containment of the virus in Re: The Proper Treatment of Covid 19 Patients and Dignified Handling of Dead Bodies In The Hospitals Etc. (W.P [C] No. 7 of 2020). On November 27, 2020, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of the Rajkot Hospital fire in Gujarat resulting in death of Covid patients. The Court had also taken notice of earlier incidents of fire in Covid Hospitals. 

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