Andheri Fire: Death Toll Rises to Eight, ESIC Kamgar Hospital Did Not Have Fire NOC
The fire reportedly broke out near the operation theatre of ESIC Kamgar Hospital in Andheri's Marol area.
Mumbai, December 18: The death toll in the fire that broke out at ESIC Kamgar Hospital in Andheri's Marol area on Monday rose to eight. While six people were killed on Monday, two people died this morning. One of the deceased is a six-month-old baby. According to the fire department in Mumbai, ESIC Kamgar Hospital did not obtain a final No Objection Certificate (NOC). The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
"They (hospital authorities) have applied for the final NOC but compliances were not in line with the provisions of the act and hence they have not been given final NOC by us. Our building proposal department has also not given final occupation certificate," Deputy Fire Officer of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), MV Ogale, told news agency ANI. The 'Level 3' blaze erupted at ESIC Kamgar Hospital at around 4 pm.
The fire reportedly broke out near the operation theatre of the five-storey hospital and quickly spread horizontally and vertically, trapping around 155 people. Ten fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze. Over 140 people, mostly patients and staffers, were injured in the fire at the state government-run hospital. Some patients and staffers did not wait for help and jumped out of the fourth floor window. They suffered fractures, and at least one was killed.
Over 40 people were rescued and a majority of them had suffered burn wounds or suffocation symptoms. Preliminary reports suggested that the fire might have erupted due to a short-circuit in the hospital building with a glass facade. Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, who visited the mishap site, promised a detailed probe and strict action against those guilty of lapses.
"Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation is responsible for the fire audits, whether they carried out fire audits or not, that will be investigated," he said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 18, 2018 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).