6 Dead After Fire Breaks out at Hospital in India

At least six people have been confirmed dead and over 20 others injured after a massive fire broke out at a private hospital in southern India on Thursday evening, according to local authorities.

The incident occurred in the city of Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, a state in the southern part of the country.

Police reported that the victims were found unconscious inside an elevator in the hospital, as per the India Trust of India news agency. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

The fire reportedly started in the reception area on the ground floor and quickly spread to other floors.

Emergency responders were able to contain the flames, but the damage was extensive. Police official A. Pradeep confirmed that around 30 individuals were injured in the fire, though their conditions were described as stable.

This deadly fire comes just ten days after a similar tragedy in Uttar Pradesh, where a blaze at a hospital claimed the lives of ten newborns. Earlier this year, another fire broke out at a children’s hospital in New Delhi, resulting in the deaths of six children.

The rise in hospital fires has raised concerns about the safety of medical facilities in India. In May, a fire in an amusement park in Gujarat killed at least 27 people, including several children, underscoring the need for improved safety measures across various public spaces in the country.