1 week ago
Amravati NICU Fire Kills Three Newborns, Prompts Inquiry
A fire started early Monday in a hospital room caring for newborn babies in Amravati.
There were 39 babies in the unit at the time.
Hospital staff and relatives rescued 36 babies, but three babies died.
Officials think a ventilator may have exploded or malfunctioned.
Some hospital sources said the fire safety inspection had expired and the alarm did not work.
Relatives described darkness, heavy smoke and confusion during the rescue.
The police registered three accidental-death cases.
The Maharashtra government ordered an inquiry and promised money to the families who lost their babies.
A fire broke out around 4 a.m. Monday in the NICU of Amravati District Women’s Hospital.
Officials said 39 babies were in the NICU; 36 were rescued and three died.
The three victims included the baby on a ventilator and two babies nearby, officials said.
A preliminary assessment indicated a possible ventilator explosion, while sources cited a lapsed fire audit and a nonfunctioning alarm.
Maharashtra announced a seven-day inquiry and ₹5 lakh compensation for each deceased baby’s family.
- Who
- Three newborns died, while hospital staff and relatives helped rescue other babies. Maharashtra officials, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, ordered an inquiry.
- What
- A fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, killing three newborns and prompting police cases and a government investigation.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the government-run Amravati District Women’s Hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra.
- When
- The fire broke out around 4 a.m. on Monday; officials said the inquiry report is due within seven days.
- Why
- Officials said a fault or explosion in a ventilator may have caused the fire; the cause has not been conclusively established.
Official Account
Concerns Raised By Staff And Relatives
Possible cause
Official Account
Officials said preliminary information indicated an explosion or fault in a ventilator, and a formal inquiry will determine responsibility.
Concerns Raised By Staff And Relatives
Hospital sources said one of the ventilators had previously experienced a minor blast in 2022 and alleged that a fire audit had lapsed and the ward’s fire alarm did not function.
Fire brigade response
Official Account
The district surgeon said he informed the fire department and that firefighters sprayed water after staff used extinguishers.
Concerns Raised By Staff And Relatives
Relatives alleged that the fire brigade arrived only after the fire had already been extinguished.
Rescue conditions
Official Account
Officials said staff rescued 36 of the 39 babies, including six before the district surgeon arrived.
Concerns Raised By Staff And Relatives
Witnesses described the ward as dark, smoke-filled and rapidly engulfed in flames, saying some babies could not be saved.
Key facts
- Babies in NICU
- 39
- Babies rescued
- 36
- Newborns who died
- 3
- Babies moved to other hospitals
- 32
- Immediate fire area
- Nine babies were present: one on a ventilator and eight on warmers.
- Police action
- Three accidental-death cases were registered.
- Compensation
- ₹5 lakh was announced for each family of a deceased baby.
- Inquiry timeline
- A committee was asked to submit its report within seven days.
Quotes
Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra chief minister who announced an inquiry and promised action
“I saw the NICU catching fire in front of me. I heard a woman scream while I was searching for my baby. I learnt at 7 am that my child is no more. Kiti vichar kela hota, sonyacha karil, chan naav thevil, khaun ghetla mazya lekrala. [I had thought so much about him. I would buy him a gold ornament, give him a good name]. But they ate my son alive.”
indianexpress.com
“The incident took place around 4 am at the NICU of the hospital. There were 39 babies, of whom we were able to rescue 36, while three died. When the fire broke out, there were nine babies — one on a ventilator and eight on warmers. The baby on the ventilator and two babies who were next to him died in the incident.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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