Mumbai: At least nine have reportedly died and around 73 evacuated after a major fire engulfed the Sunrise Hospital located in the premises of Dreamz Mall in Bhandup area of Mumbai, early on Friday.

The blaze was noticed around midnight on the first floor and rapidly spread to the two upper floors of the three-storied mall which houses the COVID-19 hospital on the last floor. Mumbai Fire Brigade and disaster teams rushed to the spot to douse the blaze and to rescue and transfer the COVID-19 patients to other hospitals in the area. The patients were shifted to the jumbo COVID field hospital in Mulund and Fortis Hospital.

“Two casualties have been reported in fire incident. Rescue operation for 76 patients admitted to COVID care hospital is underway. Level-3 or level-4 fire broke out on first floor of a mall at 12.30 AM. Around 23 fire tenders present at the spot,” ANI quoted, DCP Prashant Kadam, as saying.

Clarifying on running a hospital in a mall, the statement from Sunrise Hospital read, “This hospital was started in exceptional circumstances of coronavirus pandemic last year and has helped in saving many patients from COVID deaths. It is functioning with all due compliances like fire licence, nursing home licence etc. The hospital staff did a fantastic job in safely evacuating patients on wheelchairs and beds to the refuge areas and by following the fire drills.”

The incident took place at a time when Mumbai is reporting a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, the city reported 5,504 new cases, the highest daily count since the pandemic started.