Amravati: (Rajeev Sharma) Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Amravati district in the early hours of Monday.
The fire erupted while critically ill infants were being treated in the specialised unit, turning a routine night at the hospital into a frantic rescue operation. Hospital personnel responded quickly as smoke and flames spread through the ward.
Doctors, nurses and other staff members began evacuating the babies from the affected section. Infants were moved to safer locations and arrangements were made to continue their treatment after they were taken out of the NICU.
However, three newborns died in the incident, officials said. The tragedy has left the families devastated and prompted authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
Fire Breaks Out in Critical Care Unit
The NICU houses newborns who require intensive medical attention and often depend on specialised equipment for their survival. The presence of such equipment made the emergency particularly challenging for hospital staff attempting to evacuate the babies.
Several infants were subsequently shifted to another medical facility so that their treatment could continue without interruption.
The precise cause of the fire has not yet been officially established. Initial information has pointed towards a possible problem involving medical equipment, but investigators are expected to determine whether an electrical fault, equipment failure or another factor triggered the blaze.
Safety Measures Under Scrutiny
Following the deaths, attention has turned to fire-safety arrangements at the government hospital. Authorities are examining whether the required safety systems were functioning properly and whether established emergency procedures were followed during the incident.
A probe has been initiated to establish the sequence of events and determine if any negligence or safety lapse contributed to the tragedy.
Officials are also expected to examine the condition and maintenance records of equipment installed inside the NICU as part of the investigation.
Families Await Answers
The deaths have caused immense distress among the families of the newborns, who were already dealing with the difficult circumstances surrounding their children’s treatment.
As officials continue their inquiry, the focus remains on establishing how the fire began, how quickly it spread and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
Further details are expected once authorities complete their preliminary assessment and release more information about the investigation.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and the exact circumstances leading to the deaths have not yet been conclusively established.
