Two-month-old among 6 killed, 147 injured in massive fire at hospital in Mumbai’s Andheri

According to the fire brigade, smoke was noticed in the ground floor of the Kamgar hospital. It spread to the entire building trapping patients in the corridors and on terrace. At least 106 people have been rescued and shifted to three nearby hospitals.

Six persons, including a two-month-old baby, were killed while 147 others were rescued as a major fire swept a government hospital in Mumbai’s Andheri (East) on Monday, officials said.

Rescue operations at ESIC hospital in Mumbai’s Andheri (East).(Pramod R Thakur/HT Photo)

The fire has now been brought under control and all those trapped in the building rescued.

Apart from the baby, whose death was confirmed by doctors, the BMC’s Disaster Management department said five others were killed, including two unidentified bodies recovered from the fire. “More details about the deaths is awaited,” an official said.

The injured lying outside the hospital after being rescued. (Pramod R Thakur/HT Photo)

The level three fire, which is defined as a major incident, was reported at 4:20pm from the fourth floor of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Hospital. It was later raised to level four at 4:54pm, fire department officials said.

According to the fire brigade, smoke spread through out the multistorey hospital, trapping patients in the corridors and on the terrace. The rescued people were sent to three nearby hospitals.

All the nearby hospitals had been alerted while the rescue operation was continuing.

The fire department has sent 10 fire engines, six water tankers, three turn table ladders and as many as 16 ambulances for rescuing trapped people as senior officials supervised the operation.