Thane: 4 patients killed in fire at Prime Criticare Hospital in Mumbra

The fire broke out at 3.40 am at Prime Criticare Hospital. Pics/Sameer Markande

At least four persons, including a senior citizen, were killed when a massive fire engulfed the Prime Criticare Hospital at Kausa in Mumbra town, early on Wednesday morning, officials said. Fire officials said it was an electrical fire that started in the hospital's meter room and later spread.

The fire broke out at 3.40 am and was controlled within two hours by 5:30 am. There were no coronavirus patients in the hospital, officials added.

Another more than 20 patients in different wards were evacuated, according to Thane Police and Fire Brigade officials.

Housing Minister Dr Jitendra Awhad who rushed to the spot said: "The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained... The police and the local municipal corporation will give the details soon," he said.

At least 8 fire tenders were engaged in battling the blaze which was noticed around 3 am and finally brought under control by dawn.

The deceased have been identified as Yasmeen Z. Sayyed, 46, Nawab M Shaikh, 47, Halima B. Salmani, 70, and one Sonawane.

Awhad said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was informed of the tragedy. The family of each deceased will be given a compensation of Rs five lakh and those injured will get Rs one lakh each, he added.

A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to go into the cause of the fire, he said. The committee will comprise officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation and also the police and medical officials, he said.

On April 23, at least 15 COVID-19 patients died after a fire broke out at the intensive care unit of a private hospital at Virar in the adjoining Palghar district.

(With agency inputs)