Amravati: Fire Erupts in NICU, Three Newborns Die
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.
Mumbai: Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out at a government hospital in Maharashtra's Amravati in the early hours of Monday. As many as 36 other infants were rescued and shifted to other hospitals following the blaze, which erupted in the NICU housing premature and critically ill babies.
According to officials, the ventilator in the NICU suddenly exploded at around 3:30 AM, after which the fire spread rapidly. Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff rushed to the ward after the fire broke out and began evacuating the babies. They also tried to control the blaze, but the fire quickly intensified and spread through the ward. Staff members managed to rescue six infants from the NICU.
However, three newborns suffered severe burn injuries and died in the incident. Six critically affected newborns were shifted to a nearby Super Speciality Hospital for treatment.
Amravati Police Commissioner Rakesh Ola said that the SNCU has three compartments - one each for inborn and outborn babies, and one for step-down care for children ready to be discharged. He added that 39 infants were admitted across the three sections.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the incident as ‘extremely tragic’ and announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the next of kin of the deceased. “The incident of the death of three children in the fire that broke out last night at the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. We share in the grief of their families,” he said in a post on X.
The CM further informed that orders have been issued to the health administration to conduct a high-level inquiry into this incident. “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,” he said.
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, Fadnavis added.
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar rushed to the scene to review the situation, inspect the damaged hospital facility and assess administrative lapses. The minister met with the parents of the deceased newborns to extend state condolences and support.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh criticized the state government over the incident. He claimed that safety recommendations issued after the 2021 Bhandara hospital tragedy were ignored, and he demanded immediate electrical and fire audits across all medical facilities in Maharashtra.
