Amravati, August 24: A fire inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra, resulted in the death of three newborn babies early Monday morning, triggering a state-level inquiry into hospital safety protocols.
The incident occurred around 3:15 am when a ventilator caught fire within the outborn compartment of the NICU. Out of 39 infants admitted across the unit’s three specialized compartments, hospital staff managed to safely evacuate 36 babies as smoke filled the room.
Emergency protocols were initiated to transfer the rescued newborns to specialized care centers. Six infants were admitted to a super speciality facility, while four were moved to the Divisional Referral Services Hospital, where medical staff maintain close observation over one infant in critical condition.
State officials affirmed that technical departments are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the failure that caused the equipment fire. Amravati Police Commissioner Rakesh Ola stated that fire personnel and the PWD’s electrical wing have been informed, and they will find out the cause of the fire.
Government leaders expressed grief over the tragedy while promising full support to the affected families. Amravati Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule maintained that he had discussed the incident with officials concerned and that the administration was keeping a close watch on the situation. He declared that the administration is ensuring all possible medical help for the surviving infants while the comprehensive inquiry proceeds.
