Fire kills 11 patients in Indian COVID-19 facility

A fire killed 11 coronavirus patients early Sunday at a southern Indian hotel being used as a COVID-19 facility, officials said, in the second such incident this month.

The blaze at Hotel Swarna Palace in the city of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh state broke out at 5 a.m. local time.

Rescue teams evacuated those trapped in the multistory building, said Senior police officer Srinivasulu, who uses only one name.

At least 22 people were brought into hospital, he said.

The fire had been brought under control but smoke was still billowing out from the building, he said, and that an electrical short-circuit appeared to be the cause of the fire.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences and assured survivors of all possible support.

The blaze is now the second fire incident to happen at a COVID-19 facility in India in the month of August.

On Thursday, eight people were killed in a fire in the intensive care unit of a private COVID-19 designated hospital in Ahmedabad in Gujarat state.