Amravati hospital fire: Saw infants covered in black ash, recalls parent

On Monday morning at 3:15 a.m. in Amravati, Maharashtra, a terrifying fire engulfed the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital, leaving newborns scarred by black ashes. Parents and families of infants, waiting anxiously outside the government hospital, never anticipated such a nightmarish situation.

Witnesses recounted the horrifying ordeal, with some parents stating that security guards and nurses rushed to rescue children from the smoke-filled units. Yet, relatives of some children admitted to the hospital alleged that the ward’s water spray system failed to activate promptly when the fire ignited, and they blamed the hospital administration for the disaster.

The tragedy struck the NICU, where premature, low-weight, and critically ill newborns were undergoing treatment. Three infants lost their lives in the fire, according to officials. Yogesh Savarkar, a resident of Achalpur in Amravati, recounted his harrowing experience. Having left his wife and eight-day-old child at the hospital while he slept outside, Savarkar rushed to the scene after hearing the fire.

As flames spread above the children in the ward, he climbed the stairs to rescue his baby and carried him down to safety. Savarkar claimed that security guards were the first to arrive at the spot, beginning the rescue operation. He also witnessed a nurse assisting in saving lives. However, relatives of the children squarely placed the blame on the hospital administration, admitting they were unaware of the fire's exact cause.

The incident has left a community in shock, with parents still grappling with the loss of their precious infants.