Amravati: Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital in Maharashtra’s Amravati in the early hours of Monday. Six other infants rescued from the unit are receiving treatment at a nearby Super Speciality Hospital.
The blaze was reported at around 3.30 am on the third floor of the hospital’s recently built premises. Preliminary information suggests that an explosion in a ventilator may have triggered the fire. The flames and thick smoke reportedly spread rapidly through the ward.
The precise cause of the incident has not been established. Investigators are examining the equipment and the circumstances that led to the suspected explosion, as reported by Telangana Today.
Doctors, nurses and other hospital employees responded after the fire was noticed and evacuated several infants from the affected unit. The third floor has three NICU wards, each equipped with 13 beds, giving the floor a total capacity of 39 beds.
The unit where the fire started reportedly housed between nine and 12 premature and high-risk newborns who were under intensive medical supervision.
Fire System Under Scrutiny
The tragedy has prompted questions about the hospital’s safety arrangements and its ability to respond to emergencies. Although the building was inaugurated only a year ago by the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the automated fire-suppression system reportedly did not activate.
Officials are investigating whether the ventilator involved in the incident was obsolete, inadequately maintained or suffered a serious technical malfunction. The response of the municipal fire brigade is also being examined, including the time taken to reach the hospital after the alarm was raised.
Authorities are further reviewing the location and actions of the duty personnel present in the NICU when the fire began.
High-Level Probe Ordered
Senior police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police, visited the hospital soon after the incident. Local authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry to establish whether administrative or safety-related lapses contributed to the deaths and to fix responsibility.
Maharashtra Revenue Minister and Amravati District Guardian Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule expressed grief over the loss of the newborns and assured the families of government assistance.
“I am deeply saddened by today’s tragic incident in Amravati. My heart goes out to the affected families,” he said, adding: “I pay my solemn tributes to the departed newborns and pray that God gives their parents the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
Bawankule said a comprehensive investigation had been ordered. District officials were instructed to monitor the situation, ensure continuous treatment for the surviving infants and provide every possible assistance to the affected families. Emergency response measures remain in place at the hospital.