3 newborns killed after fire breaks out at Amravati Hospital NICU
Amravati: Three newborns died after a massive fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women's Hospital in Amravati in the early hours of Monday, officials said.
According to preliminary information, the fire erupted at around 3.30 am on the third floor of the hospital, reportedly following an explosion in a ventilator inside the neonatal unit, reports ANI.
Doctors, nurses and other staff on duty immediately began an evacuation operation and managed to rescue several infants from the ward.
Also Read:Fire breaks out at Guntur Nature Cure Hospital, no injuries reported
Around 39 newborns were reportedly admitted to the unit at the time of the incident. However, three babies suffered fatal burn injuries in the blaze. Six infants have been shifted to the Super Speciality Hospital for further treatment.
The timely response of the hospital staff helped save several other newborns. Further details regarding the cause of the fire and the condition of the rescued infants are awaited.
In his post on X, CM Fadnavis said, "The strictest possible action will be taken against those responsible for this incident. Both the Health Minister and the Secretary have been instructed to visit Amravati today itself. The incident of the death of three children is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. We share in the grief of their families."
He further added, "The state government will provide financial assistance of 5 lakh rupees to the families of the deceased. Instructions have also been given to the Amravati District Collector to provide treatment to the injured children at government expense. Fortunately, 36 children were successfully rescued unharmed in this incident."
Earlier, in a separate incident, three newborns sustained burn injuries after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Chhindwara District Hospital, Madhya Pradesh, in the early hours of Saturday, officials said.
Civil Surgeon of the district hospital, Kanchan Dubey, said the incident occurred at around 1:50 am when a spark in the filament of a warmer used in the NICU caused the equipment to catch fire, resulting in burn injuries to three newborns.
Also Read:Fire breaks out at Hapur Hospital, patients and staff evacuated
