Andheri ESIC Kamgar Hospital Fire: Death Toll Rises to 8; Minister Announces Rs 10 Lakh to Kin of Those Who Lost Their Lives

The fire, caused by a suspected short-circuit, was first noticed in the upper floors of the five-storied building.

Mumbai: In the fire that broke out in Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Kamgar Hospital in Andheri, Mumbai, the death toll has risen to eight, reported ANI on Tuesday.

The deceased include a 5-month-old baby girl and 157 were reported injured after a massive fire swept through the state government-run hospital.  “Altogether 176 persons, including three firemen, are now being treated in city hospitals,” reports quoted an official from Disaster Management Unit of BMC.

The fire, caused by a suspected short-circuit, was first noticed in the upper floors of the five-storied building with a glass facade in the MIDC area — the industrial hub in the north-western suburb — around 4.15 PM.

At least 12 fire tenders, 15 water tankers, and other specialised equipment were rushed to battle the blaze and those trapped were taken out via ladders from the third and fourth floors as the flames quickly spread horizontally and vertically.

The rescue operations were hampered for a while due to snapping of power supply from the building as a precautionary measure and by 7 PM the blaze was stated to be under control, with cooling operations being taken up.

Earlier, Mumbai Mayor V Mahadeshwar had said that Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) was responsible for fire audits. He said it would be investigated if fire audits were carried out or not.

According to the Disaster Management cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), several patients have been shifted to the Cooper Hospital (Andheri West), P. Thakrey Hospital (Trauma), Jogeshwari (East), Holi Spirit Hospital and Seven Hills Hospital in Andheri (East).

Meanwhile, Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar has announced Rs 10 lakh each as compensation for the next of the kin of those who died in the fire, a statement said.

“Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour & Employment, Santosh Kumar Gangwar announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident, Rs 2 lakh each for those who have serious injuries and Rs 1 lakh each for those with minor injuries,” the labour ministry statement said.

A total of 147 people, including patients and visitors, were rescued after the fire broke out at the ESIC Kamgar Hospital at Marol in suburban Andheri, said an official of the Disaster Management Cell of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

While the exact cause of the blaze was being ascertained, the preliminary report said that building material, kept at the ground floor of the hospital for renovation work caught fire, the ministry said in the statement.