Maharashtra: fire at Amravati hospital kills 3 newborns, CM orders probe

In Maharashtra,three newborns died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati city early Monday, officials said. The blaze, which broke out in the NICU’s outborn babies’ section, was triggered by a ventilator at around 3.15am, Amravati Police Commissioner Rakesh Ola said. Of the 39 infants admitted across the NICU’s three sections, 36 were rescued. The three infants who died were in the outborn section, while six other babies in the same section were safely evacuated, Ola said. Six infants were later admitted to a super speciality hospital for further treatment. The NICU has three sections — for inborn babies, outborn babies and step-down care for infants who are ready to be discharged. It was housing 39 newborns across the three sections when the fire broke out.

Amravati, Maharashtra: Three newborns died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Amravati District Women's Hospital at around 3:30 AM. The fire reportedly started following an explosion in a ventilator on the hospital's third floor, where 39… pic.twitter.com/Yde1uEk3W6

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Maharashtra revenue minister and Amravati guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said hospital staff immediately rushed to the NICU after the fire was reported and evacuated the other newborns. Bawankule ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident and said the government would provide all necessary assistance to the affected families.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences over the deaths of three infants in a fire at the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati and ordered a high-level probe into the incident. He said the state government would provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family of each infant who died in the fire.
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakashrao Abitkar on Monday said medical staff made every effort to save infants after a blaze erupted at a hospital in Amravati, even as the Opposition demanded accountability and a statewide fire audit of hospitals."Regarding the unfortunate incident that occurred at a hospital in Amravati, in which three of our children tragically lost their lives, it is a deeply unfortunate and sorrowful event for us. Our staff provided ventilator support and made every possible effort to save them, but unfortunately, they did not succeed," he told reporters.