Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in a blaze at a private hospital in Maharashtra's Palghar district and approved an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the victims.

Thirteen COVID-19 patients died in the blaze at the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Virar, police said.

IT major Wipro, on Friday, regained the position as India's third most-valued information technology (IT) company, surpassing HCL Technologies in terms of market capitalisation (market-cap).

At 09:37 am, Wipro stood at number 12 in the overall m-cap ranking with an m-cap of Rs 2.65 trillion. HCL Technologies, meanwhile, slipped to number 13 with an m-cap of Rs 2.62 trillion, BSE data shows.

Expressing anguish that COVID-related safety protocols were being flouted in West Bengal campaigning, the Election Commission on Thursday placed an immediate ban on road shows, 'pad yatras' and vehicle rallies in the state and said public meetings having more than 500 people would not be allowed.

Using its constitutional powers, the commission issued an order placing fresh restrictions on physical campaigning in the state where two more phases of elections are due on April 26 and 29.

Twenty-five sickest COVID-19 patients have died at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here in the last 24 hours, and the lives of another 60 such patients are at risk, officials said on Friday amid a serious oxygen crisis unfolding in the national capital.

A source said low pressure oxygen could be the likely cause for the deaths.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered an inquiry into the major fire incident at Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital in the Virar area of Palghar district which led to the death of 13 patients.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray ordered an inquiry into the fire incident at Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital in Virar, Chief Minister's Official statement said.

Reliance Industries Limited on Friday announced that the company will be rolling out a COVID-19 vaccination programme for its employees and their family members above the age of 18 years from May 1. The vaccination programme is called 'R-Surakshaa'.

In a letter to RIL employees, the Chairman and Managing Director RIL Mukesh Ambani and Chairperson Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani said that the COVID-19 vaccine is a key weapon again the coronavirus and the company has continued to bear the vaccination cost for all the eligible members.

Gold price on Friday jumped to Rs 50,850 for 10 gm from Rs 50,810 and the silver price is trending at Rs 70,300 per kg, according to the Good Returns website.

Gold jewellery price varies across India, the second-largest consumer of the metal, due to excise duty, state taxes, and making charges.

Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Friday sent an SOS to the Arvind Kejriwal government, saying there are only two hours of oxygen left at the facility and said that the lives of 60 sickest patients are in peril. The hospital officials said that 25 sickest patients have died in the last 24 hours.

"25 sickest patients have died in last 24 hours at the hospital. Oxygen will last another 2 hours. Ventilators and Bipap not working effectively.

In tragic news from Maharashtra, at least 13 people have died after a fire broke out at the ICU of a COVID Center in Vasai of Palghar district early on Friday morning. According to ANI report, other patients are being shifted to nearby hospitals. The incident took place at Vijay Vallabh Hospital, officials said.

The fire broke out at 3 am and 21 patients including those in critical condition have been shifted to another hospital, Dr Dilip Shah, an official at the Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital, Virar said.

Over 2,500 distress calls from COVID-19 patients were dispatched to ambulances in the national capital daily for the last one week, numbers compiled by the city government show, highlighting the severity of the ongoing wave of the pandemic.

The cumulative figure of 17,924 calls in the past one week don't include the ones made by patients to private ambulances.

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