At least eleven people have died after a massive fire broke out at a hotel that was being used as a Covid-19 facility in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state early this morning, police said.
“Several people who were trapped and injured have been rescued and moved to a government hospital,” one constable at the police control room said.
“Fire is under control but rescue and firefighting operations are still under way,” he added.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “anguished” by the fire.
Anguished by the fire at a Covid Centre in Vijayawada. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. Discussed the prevailing situation with AP CM @ysjagan Ji and assured all possible support.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2020
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The incident took place around 5am. About 22 patients are being treated in the hospital. We are evacuating the entire building,” Mohammad Imtiaz, Krishna’s district collector, was quoted as saying.
Last week, eight Covid-19 patients died in a fire that broke out in the intensive care ward of a private hospital in India’s western city of Ahmedabad.
India has over 2.1 million confirmed cases of Covid-19, which is the third highest number in the world.
More than 43,000 people who had contracted the virus there have died.
RTE
