Following the fire that broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of District Women’s Hospital in Amravati that killed nearly three new born babies, District Magistrate Ashish Yerekar on Monday said that regular fire audits were conducted at the hospital.
He further stated that an investigation into the incident is underway and assured that no one would be spared if anyone is found guilty or responsible for any lapse.
Speaking to reporters, Yerekar dismissed claims that the fire audit had been skipped, stating, “No, the fire audit for last year was indeed conducted, and they have also applied for this year's fire audit with the PWD Electrical wing. I have seen the documents myself, so it is not the case that the fire audit was skipped.”
Probe focuses on equipment
Addressing the possible cause of the fire, Yerekar said the focus of the investigation was on the equipment involved, particularly the unit that triggered the automatic alert. “We need to examine what fault lies within it,” he said.
He further assured that accountability would be fixed if any administrative negligence was found. “If any administrative lapse comes to light, no one will be spared. We will fix accountability for everyone involved. However, if there is a fault in the company's equipment, we will take strict action against the company as well,” Yerekar added.
Three newborns die in NICU fire
According to preliminary information, the blaze erupted at around 3:30 am on the third floor, reportedly following an explosion involving a ventilator inside the neonatal unit.
Following the incident, the doctors, nurses and other staff members immediately launched an evacuation operation and rescued several infants from the ward.
At the time of the incident, around 35 newborn babies were reportedly admitted to the hospital. Three infants suffered fatal burn injuries, while six others were shifted to the Super Speciality Hospital for further treatment.
Father recounts fire incident
Moreover, speaking about the tragic incident, a father of one of the infants admitted to the hospital described the incident, saying his wife saw the fire and alerted the nursing staff.
He further added "We demand that the government cover the costs for our children who have been admitted to private hospitals and ensure they receive proper treatment."
Investigation into fire underway
The investigation into the incident is underway, with authorities probing the exact cause of the fire and examining whether there were any administrative or equipment-related lapses.
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