3 newborns die after fire breaks out at Amravati hospital NICU

Three newborns perished in a fire that erupted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra on Monday morning, according to officials. The cause of the blaze was traced back to a ventilator around 3:15 am, reported Amravati Police Commissioner Rakesh Ola. Out of the 39 infants admitted to the NICU, 36 were safely rescued, while the three who succumbed to the fire were in the outborn babies' section.

Six other infants in the same section were successfully evacuated. Six additional infants were subsequently admitted to a super-speciality hospital for further care. Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister and Amravati Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed that hospital staff responded promptly to the fire and evacuated the remaining newborns.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conveyed his deepest condolences for the infant deaths and directed a thorough investigation into the incident. The state government pledged to provide financial aid of Rs 5 lakh to each deceased infant's family. Some rescued infants were transferred to the Divisional Referral Services Hospital, with one child reported to be in critical condition.

The NICU, which houses 39 newborns across three sections, was the scene of the accident. Bawankule ordered a comprehensive probe and pledged all necessary support to the affected families. Fire officials and the Public Works Department’s electrical wing have been notified to investigate the cause of the fire, reported Ola. The incident occurred in the new addition of the District Women’s Hospital, which serves premature, low-weight, and critically ill newborns.