The fire at Park Hospital in Somajiguda on Tuesday has claimed 2 lives so far.
On Tuesday, Mangaiah (75), a patient from Suryapet, died of shock and asphyxiation after being shifted to the nearby Yashoda hospital. Wednesday saw another casualty - Usha Rani (27), a nurse hailing from Nalgonda.
Usha Rani was a patient of asthma and her condition turned critical when she inhaled the smoke. She was brought to hospital unconscious and suffered a mild heart attack, and then she was put on ventilator.
Another nurse, Respa, is reported to be critical and in the ICU. A third nurse, Sandra, is said to be stable, though she is also in the ICU.
About 30 paramedics, doctors and patients were shifted from Park to Yashoda after fire broke out in the hospital on Tuesday morning. Several were injured in the mishap said to have occurred because of a problematic transformer.
Police are still investigating the case. The GHMC has decided to seal the 5th floor, an unauthorized construction, of the hospital. Several deviations from the sanctioned building plan were also found.
Several hospitals in the city are said to be accidents waiting to happen - thanks to flouting of fire and safety rules and lack of NOCs (No Objection Certificates). The fire services department has asked district fore officers across the state to carry out checks in all the hospitals and report to the health officers and fire services departments.