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24 May 2024
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Six newborn babies killed in fire at Delhi Hospital in India
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At least six newborn babies have died after a fire broke out at a children's hospital in India, according to reports. Firefighters said they carried 12 newborns out of the centre in the Vivek Vihar district of east New Delhi late on Saturday night, 25 May 2024 but six of them died due to smoke inhalation. Another infant is believed to have died on Sunday morning, according to local media. The director of Delhi's Fire Department, Atul Garg, said that 14 fire trucks had been sent to fight the fire. "The fire spread too fast due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder," he said.
Officials said rescue efforts were slowed by limited access to the building, which has a single staircase and no fire escape. The hospital is squeezed between residential houses.
Another five newborns survived and were being treated in a nearby hospital, Fire Chief Garg said. "It was a very tough operation," he was quoted as saying by India Today. "We made two teams. One team started firefighting because there was a blast of cylinders. We can say it was a chain of blasts of cylinders. We had to save ourselves also. We started rescue operations for babies as well. Unfortunately, we could not save all the children... That is a regrettable incident."
The fire, which broke out on the first floor of the hospital, was put out after about an hour.
The hospital was operating without a valid licence, police said. The fire led to the arrests of the hospital owner and the doctor on duty. An investigation has found that the hospital also did not have fire extinguishers or an emergency exit.
Police commissioner Shahdara Surendra Chaudhary told ANI news agency that the hospital's NOC (No Objection Certificate) had expired on 31 March. A fire NOC, which certifies that a building meets fire safety standards, is required for hospital buildings that have a height of more than 15m. Commisioner Chaudhary added that the hospital was permitted only five beds but had installed 10. At the time of the fire, 12 newborn babies were at the hospital. Five of them are now being treated at another hospital.
Police arrested Dr Naveen Kichi, director of the hospital and a doctor named Akash (the police shared only one name) in connection with the fire. They have been charged with culpable homicide. Dr Akash, who was on duty at the time of the incident, was not qualified to treat newborn babies in need of intensive care, police said.
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry.
Sources: Sky News, BBC
Officials said rescue efforts were slowed by limited access to the building, which has a single staircase and no fire escape. The hospital is squeezed between residential houses.
Another five newborns survived and were being treated in a nearby hospital, Fire Chief Garg said. "It was a very tough operation," he was quoted as saying by India Today. "We made two teams. One team started firefighting because there was a blast of cylinders. We can say it was a chain of blasts of cylinders. We had to save ourselves also. We started rescue operations for babies as well. Unfortunately, we could not save all the children... That is a regrettable incident."
The fire, which broke out on the first floor of the hospital, was put out after about an hour.
The hospital was operating without a valid licence, police said. The fire led to the arrests of the hospital owner and the doctor on duty. An investigation has found that the hospital also did not have fire extinguishers or an emergency exit.
Police commissioner Shahdara Surendra Chaudhary told ANI news agency that the hospital's NOC (No Objection Certificate) had expired on 31 March. A fire NOC, which certifies that a building meets fire safety standards, is required for hospital buildings that have a height of more than 15m. Commisioner Chaudhary added that the hospital was permitted only five beds but had installed 10. At the time of the fire, 12 newborn babies were at the hospital. Five of them are now being treated at another hospital.
Police arrested Dr Naveen Kichi, director of the hospital and a doctor named Akash (the police shared only one name) in connection with the fire. They have been charged with culpable homicide. Dr Akash, who was on duty at the time of the incident, was not qualified to treat newborn babies in need of intensive care, police said.
The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry.
Sources: Sky News, BBC
