Ventilator blast or short circuit? Maharashtra probes cause of NICU fire that killed 3 infants
Maharashtra CM has announced a ₹5 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased.
A fire at a Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) in Amravati, Maharashtra, claimed the lives of three infants and left 36 others injured. The incident, which occurred around 3.30am on Monday, has prompted the state government to launch a high-level probe and enforce stringent fire safety audits in healthcare facilities across the state.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow, promising ₹5 lakh in ex gratia for each deceased infant's family. The blaze is suspected to have been caused either by a ventilator explosion or an electrical short circuit. Officials stated that the fire broke out on the third floor of the new hospital building, home to three SNCUs with a combined capacity of 39 infants.
Six critically ill newborns from the affected area were transferred to private hospitals. The cause of the tragedy is still under investigation, with different accounts suggesting a ventilator malfunction or an electrical issue as the potential triggers.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
