I Seek Forgiveness From Their Families: CM

Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister of neighbouring Maharashtra, sought forgiveness from the families of the 10 people who died after a fire broke out at a Coronavirus hospital in Mumbai. He said that each of the families will get a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Bangladesh on a two-day visit, said he was “pained by the loss of lives” and would pray for the injured.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire at a hospital in Mumbai. I pray that the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Maharashtra officials said around 70 other patients undergoing treatment for Coronavirus in the same hospital have been moved to safety from the Dreams Mall Sunrise Hospital, located on the fourth floor of a shopping mall in Mumbai’s Bhandup neighbourhood.

The CM visited the hospital after the disaster and said: “The firefighters did a great job in rescuing people. However, some who were on ventilators could not be rescued. I seek forgiveness from their families.”

Thackery said that the hospital had been set up to deal with the wave of Covid cases that have swept the city. During the first wave last year, Mumbai was the worst-affected metro city in the country. He said that preliminary reports suggested the fire originated at a shop in the mall and not in the hospital itself: The hospital’s permit would have expired on March 31, the CM said and assured to punish those responsible.

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said: “This is the first time I have seen a hospital in a mall. This is a very serious situation. Seven patients were on ventilators. 70 have been taken to another hospital. There will be an investigation to confirm the cause.”