At about 10:30 on Thursday morning, Respa, a nurse aged 27, succumbed to a heart attack following asphyxiation owing to inhaling the fumes of the fire that broke out in Park Hospital. She was among the people - paramedics, nurses and patients - who were immediately shifted to Yashoda hospital. Respa was on ventilator, and her condition had worsened by Tuesday itself.
Respa, a newly-wed hailing from Guntur, had moved to the city only a year ago. She had walked in to the hospital to take over the shift from Usha Rani, another nurse who died of the smoke inhalation. Usha was an asthma patient.
No action has yet been taken on Park Hospital by city police, even though the hospital management has been charged with criminal negligence under Section 304 (A). As per municipal records, the hospital building is owned by C Damodar Reddy, and S Surender Reddy (owner of Vijaya Diagnostics) is the chairman. CEO Uma and Vice President Venkatesham are names that couldn’t be ascertained.