Virar Hospital Fire: PM Modi approves ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for kin of deceased

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in a blaze at a private hospital in Maharashtra''s Palghar district and approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the victims.

"The fire at a COVID-19 hospital in Virar is tragic. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon," Modi was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister''s Office (PMO).

"PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF (Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund) for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Virar, Maharashtra. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured," the PMO said in a tweet.

PM @narendramodi has approved an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the hospital fire in Virar, Maharashtra. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 23, 2021

Maharashtra government on Friday announced Rs 5 lakhs ex-gratia for kin of the deceased who lost their lives after fire broke out at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a COVID hospital and Rs 1 lakh each for the critically injured patients in the Virar area of Maharashtra's Palghar district.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, a high-level inquiry has been ordered to probe the Virar Hospital Fire incident.

Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde said, "this is a big accident and those found responsible won't be spared. The government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of those who lost their lives."

Atleast 13 patients died after a fire broke out at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a COVID hospital in the Virar area of Maharashtra's Palghar district. The incident took place around 3:30 am on the second floor of the facility, the Corona Control Room, Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation informed. Three fire tenders of the Virar Fire Brigade reached the spot to douse the fire. It was extinguished by 5:20 am.

Other COVID patients have been shifted to other hospitals. This Tragic incident comes just days after 24 COVID-19 patients lost their lives after an oxygen tanker leaked outside Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik, Maharashtra.