Three Premature Babies Die After Fire Breaks Out In Amravati Hospital's NICU

Around 3:30 am on Monday, a fire broke out in one room of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the government-run Amravati District Women's Hospital, resulting in the deaths of three premature newborns.

A preliminary investigation indicates that a thermal unit in the NICU had a technical issue that resulted in the fire. At the time, there were nine newborns in the affected room. Three of the nine newborns who were evacuated by hospital workers and attendants died.

According to officials, the premature babies were receiving treatment, including treatment for jaundice.

Fire contained within half-hour

According to Amravati Deputy Commissioner of Police Shyam Ghuge, the fire was contained to a single NICU room and was put out in about half an hour. 

“There was a technical fault in the thermal unit, following which the fire broke out. The attendants immediately took out the nine babies from the room, of whom three died,” he said.

“We will conduct a further investigation to ascertain why the fire broke out and whether all the required fire-safety norms were being followed at the government hospital. The technical equipment involved in the incident, as well as the fire-safety arrangements at the hospital, are likely to be examined as part of the probe.”

Ghuge stated that a further investigation would be conducted to determine the precise cause of the incident.

Fadnavis orders probe after NICU fire

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X, saying,

“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. Orders have been issued to the health administration to conduct a high-level inquiry into this incident. 

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 state government will provide financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased.”