Amravati. A massive fire broke out at around 3:30 AM on Monday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharashtra’s Amravati District Women’s Hospital. A total of 39 newborns were admitted to the NICU at the time of the incident. Three newborns died after being caught in the fire, while 36 children were safely rescued.
According to Amravati Police Commissioner Rakesh Ola, 9 newborns were admitted in one of the three compartments of the NICU. The fire spread in this section, trapping 3 children. The remaining 6 children have been shifted elsewhere for treatment. There is currently no information available regarding the present condition of these children.
Ward Filled with Smoke, Guards and Nurse Took Charge
Panic broke out in the hospital following the incident. According to the relatives, as soon as the fire and smoke spread, the guard and nurse were the first to reach the ward to rescue the children. They began taking the newborns out.
Yogesh Savarkar, a resident of Achalpur, said that his wife and 8-day-old baby were admitted to the hospital. At the time of the incident, he was sleeping outside the hospital. As soon as he came to know about the fire, he reached the first floor and ran downstairs carrying his child in his arms. He said that black ash had accumulated on the bodies of several children. The fire was spreading rapidly, and nothing was visible inside the ward due to the smoke. Relatives were also rushing towards the ward to save their children.
Questions Raised Over Fire Safety System
The relatives claimed that the water spray system did not work after the fire broke out. They said that the system should have been activated immediately after the fire started. The families have demanded an investigation into the hospital’s fire safety arrangements and that responsibility be fixed for any negligence. Several medical equipment kept inside the NICU were also destroyed in the fire. Following the incident, police and fire department teams reached the spot and brought the fire under control. The cause of the fire is being investigated. There is also a suspicion of a blast in the AC installed in the NICU.
₹5 Lakh Financial Assistance for Families of Deceased Newborns
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. He said that strict action would be taken against those responsible for negligence. The Chief Minister has directed the Health Minister and the Secretary of the Health Department to visit Amravati and assess the situation. He has also announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh from the state government for the families of the deceased newborns.
NICU Fire Also Broke Out in Madhya Pradesh Two Days Ago
Two days before this incident, a fire also broke out in the NICU of Chhindwara District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh. Around 2 AM late Saturday night, a fire broke out after a spark from the filament of a warmer machine. Three newborns suffered burn injuries in the incident, one of whom died. Hospital staff extinguished the fire with the help of firefighting equipment. Following the incident, the hospital administration began an investigation into the cause of the fire.