7 killed in fire at makeshift COVID-19 facility in Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh

File photo of the hotel

Seven people were killed and several are feared trapped after a massive blaze at a make-shift Covid-19 facility at Swarana Palace hotel in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada where about 30 people were admitted to the facility recently.

The fire broke out at 5:15 am, officials said, adding that it was brought under control within 30 minutes.

Twenty people have been rescued from the hotel so far, police said. Efforts are on to rescue others traped inside the building, they said.

“The incident took place around 5 am. Around 22 patients are being treated in hospital. We are evacuating the entire building. The reason of fire appears to be a short circuit, as per the preliminary report, but we will have to ascertain,” Krishna District Collector Mohammad Imtiaz said.