Mumbai: On Monday, 28 people were killed and 145 were injured among which 28 are critically injured due to a fire that broke out in ESIC Kamgar Hospital, Marol MIDC, shortly after 4pm. The deceased includes a 6 month old baby girl.
Two of the deceased are currently at Cooper Hospital, one in Holy Spirit hospital, four in Seven hills hospital and one in Shatabdi hospital. On the other hand 141 patients are admitted for treatment in above mentioned hospitals.
A short circuit in a window AC unit on the ground floor of the five-storey structure has been suspected as the possible reason for fire. The hospital did not have an OC or a fire NOC (no-objection certificate) because of infrastructural problems and a lack of adequate safety provisions, said an MIDC fire officer. “In fact, 15 days ago, we went to the hospital on an inspection and served it a notice,” he said.
A male nurse, Kailash Dhayal, who has been with the hospital for 10 years said, “My duty had just finished before 4pm. Since I live in the staff quarters behind the hospital, I came running back hearing streams.”
Assistant director of the hospital, Sarika Kakkad, said, “We have OC and fire NOC. The portion without the final NOC is not being used.”