Ahmednagar district collector Rajendra Bhosale has ordered an inquiry into this incident. Bhosale told media persons that the fire reportedly broke out at around 10.30 am at the Covid ward in the new building of the civil hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was anguished by the deaths. Modi tweeted, “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.”

महाराष्ट्रात अहमदनगरमध्ये रुग्णालयाला लागलेल्या आगीत झालेल्या जीवितहानीबद्दल दुःख झाले आहे. पीडितांच्या कुटुंबियांकडे शोकभावना व्यक्त करतो. जखमींच्या तब्येतीत लवकर सुधारणा होऊ दे.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2021

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also expressed his condolences over the deaths and said that stern action will be taken against those found guilty of negligence. He also asked the district collector to carry out a thorough probe and submit a report.

Earlier, the CM had asked Guardian Minister Hasan Mushrif and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte to closely monitor the situation. He told them that all possible help should be extended to those who were injured in the fire and are undergoing treatment now.

There were 17 patients at the Covid ward at that time. Initially, 10 had patients died in the fire while seven others were shifted. Out of the seven, one patient who was critical died later.

The deceased patients have been identified as Sitaram Dagdu Jadhav (83) of Bakhtapur, Shevgaon, Bhivaji Sadashiv Pawar (80) of Kinhi village in Parner, Ramkisan Vitthal Harpude (70) of Maka village in Nevasa, Kondabai Madhukar Kadam (70) of Kedgaon, Chababi Ahmed Sayyad (65) of Shendi, Satyabhama Shivaji Ghodchaure (65) of Telkudgaon in Nevasa, Kadubal Gangadhar Khatik (65) of Patharvala in Nevasa, Asrabai Govind Nangare (58) of Shevgaon, Deepak Vishwanath Jagdale (37) of Sangamner and one 58-year-old man whose details are yet to be known.

Cops deployed at the hospital ((Express photo by Anil Shah)

Those who were injured and had to be shifted were identified as Lakshman Vitthal Thorat (85) of Pathardi, Ramabai Panjaram Vidhate (70) of Nevasa, Godabai Popat Sasane (70) of Shrigonda, Yamuna Tatyaram Kamble (65) of Kedgaon, Lakshman Asraji Savalkar (60) of Shevgaon, Santosh Dharmaji Thokal (40) of Beed and Ankush Kisan Pavar (40) of Rahuri. One of them died later while six others are in a stable condition now.

After they were informed, the Ahmednagar fire brigade pressed three fire tenders and water tankers into action. The fire brigade brought the situation under control in 45 minutes.

Prima facie reports suggest that an electrical short-circuit may have started the fire. But the exact reason can only be determined after the probe is completed.

DSP Manoj Patil and other police officers have visited the civil hospital. Moreover, cops have deployed at the premises now.

Ahmednagar SP Manoj Patil said, “Most of the deceased were above 60 while one of them was in the late 30s. It is too early to comment on the exact cause of the fire. A thorough probe will be conducted to determine the reason and the sequence of events leading to the fire.”