HYDERABAD, India – A fireplace killed 11 coronavirus patients early sunday morning at a hotel in southern India used as a COVID-19 facility, said at the time such an incident this month.
The fireplace at the Swarna Palace Hotel in Vijayawada City, Andhra Pradesh state, exploded at five o’clock in the morning. Rescue groups evacuated those trapped in the multi-story building, police officer Srinivasulu said, using only one name.
At least 22 other people were taken to hospitals, he said.
The chimney was low but smoke was still coming out of the building, he said.
Srinivasulu said an electrical short circuit gave the impression that it was the cause of the fire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and trusted the survivors of all imaginable support.
This is the moment a fireplace is located in a COVID-19 facility in India this month. On Thursday, 8 other people died at the site of a chimney in the intensive care unit of a personal hospital designated COVID-19 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat state.
Fires are not unusual in Indian buildings due to poor protection criteria with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and insufficient fire station alarm systems.