The burning question of child safety in Amravati’s government maternity hospital
Three newborn babies died and 36 were rescued after an explosion at Amravati’s government maternity hospital, a key healthcare facility serving the district and surrounding areas, including women with critical pregnancies. Snehal Mutha speaks to survivors, rescuers and hospital staff, who flag lapses in fire safety audits
On the rainy morning of August 26, the courtyard of Amravati's District Women Hospital was teeming with politicians, journalists, and onlookers. Among them stood Swapnil Borde, a 30-year-old father of one of the three infants who perished after a fire erupted in the hospital's Special Newborn Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on August 24.
Thirty-six infants were rescued and transferred to nearby hospitals, with two sustaining burn injuries, according to Amravati District Collector Ashish Yerekar. Preliminary investigations suggest that a malfunctioning ventilator sparked the blaze. Swapnil, who delivered his son two days prior to the fire due to his newborn's breathing difficulties, expressed his grief, stating, "My fair baby was turned black.
I don't want to be here even for a minute, but I still feel the presence of my child here." The room, which had been drained of life, contained empty fire extinguishers, while the NICU remained a frequent gathering spot for a State-level investigation committee, local politicians, and concerned citizens. Established in 1938, the hospital services Amravati and surrounding districts, including Wardha, Yavatmal, and Washim.
The hospital's origin dates back to the Dufferin Hospital, named after Lady Hariot Dufferin who initiated the Dufferin Fund in 1884 to aid women in India. District Civil Surgeon Dr. Vinod Pawar, responsible for the maternity hospital, informed the committee that staff heard an explosion from the ventilator at around 3:15 a.m. and saw flames emanating from it.
The fire department and Dr. Pawar were simultaneously alerted, with the priority being the rescue of the infants.
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