A major fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning at Hotel Swarna Palace in Vijayawada, which had been converted into a facility for COVID-19 patients, after it was leased by a private hospital. While initial reports said eight people are feared dead, ten people have been killed in the mishap, besides several others who were injured, according to authorities. The building was housing COVID-19 patients who were mildly symptomatic and those who did not require hospitalisation.

Visuals of the incident show people stuck in the upper floors of the building, even as fire engines battled flames which had broken out near the first and second floor of the hotel. Many of them were standing near their balcony and signalling to authorities to help them. 

Andhra Pradesh Fire service personnel used ladders to rescue some of those who were stuck, while others were brought out of the building after the flames were doused and put in ambulances that had arrived at the spot. The entire lobby of the hotel was destroyed in the accident. 

Speaking to TNM, Krishna District Fire Officer Sreenivasa Reddy said, "Around eight to 10 people are feared dead. There were 30 patients in total (at the centre). The rest have been rescued and sent to Ramesh Hospital. They were all COVID-19 patients admitted to the facility being overseen by Ramesh Hospital. There may have been five to 10 staff members. The cause of the fire is still unclear. We can only say that after investigation."

Additional information: This Covid Care Centre was was being run by a private hospital called as Ramesh Hospital. pic.twitter.com/hXWeUoR18d

— Paul Oommen (@Paul_Oommen) August 9, 2020

While the reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, media reports suggest that a short circuit could have led to the incident. Further details are awaited.

Responding to the incident, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and grief and spoke to concerned officials to take up rescue measures. "He also instructed officials to conduct an enquiry over the accident," a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

Earlier this week, a fire at a private hospital in Ahmedabad in Gujarat had led to the deaths of eight COVID-19 patients. The victims included five men and three women, who were being treated at the ICU ward of the COVID-19 designated Shrey Hospital in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad. Primary investigations had revealed that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.

At present, Andhra Pradesh has reported 2,14,145 COVID-19 cases, of which 85,486 are active. While 1,26,720 people have recovered, 1,939 people have succumbed to the virus. Vijayawada city accounts for a major chunk of coronavirus cases.