MUMBAI : The country's first specialised hospital to treat burns will be inaugurated at Airoli in Navi Mumbai by Tejomayanand Swami, disciple of Chinmayanand Swami, on Friday.

Apart from providing curative and rehabilitation facilities, the 140-bed hospital being set up by the Indian Burns Research Society will train doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and social workers. The hospital will also have a skin bank.

Dr. M.H.Keswani, the moving force behind the hospital and winner of the Everett Memorial Award of the American Burns Association, said nearly 800,000 people died of burns and related complications in India every year. "The number is going up", he added.

The first phase of the estimated Rs.10 crore project has cost Rs.4.5 crores.