7 babies die in Delhi pvt hospital
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2024-05-26 17:21 GMT
New Delhi: Seven newborns were killed and five others injured in East Delhi's Vivek Vihar as a massive fire engulfed a private neonatal hospital named Baby Care New Born Child Hospital. The hospital, alleged to be operating illegally with an expired licence and lacking necessary fire safety clearances, was the focus of investigations after the devastating incident.
According to officials, the hospital’s owner, Dr Naveen Khichi, and Dr Aaksh, who was on duty at the time of the incident, were arrested by the police on Sunday. A report submitted by the District Magistrate (Shahdara) revealed that there were 12 babies admitted to the hospital at the time of the fire. One infant died on the spot, while eleven others were rushed to a nearby hospital, where six succumbed to their injuries upon arrival. The deceased children, comprising four boys and three girls, were all aged 15 days, except for one boy who was 25 days old. The bodies have been transferred to the GTB Hospital for post-mortem examinations. A case has been registered at Vivek Vihar police station under various sections of the IPC related to endangering life, negligence, and culpable homicide.
While initial investigations pointed to a short circuit as the cause of the fire, deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhary stated that a probe is ongoing to ascertain all factors contributing to the tragic incident. In response to the severity of the situation, the Delhi government ordered a magisterial probe into the fire tragedy, emphasising the need for thorough scrutiny and accountability.
It was revealed that the hospital was operating with an expired licence issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of Delhi, which allowed for only five beds. Moreover, the doctors on staff were found to be Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree holders, lacking the qualifications required for neonatal intensive care treatment.
Critical lapses in fire safety measures were also highlighted, with no fire extinguishers installed in the hospital and a lack of emergency exits. Additionally, the hospital did not possess clearance from the fire department, raising concerns about compliance with safety regulations.
The fire, which broke out around 11.30 pm on Saturday, quickly spread to two adjacent buildings, causing significant damage. Sixteen fire tenders were deployed to contain the blaze, but oxygen cylinders stored in the hospital exploded, exacerbating the situation and damaging nearby structures.
Amidst the grief and outrage over the tragedy, condolences poured in from political leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lt Governor V.K. Saxena, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Prime Minister Modi announced financial assistance to the families of the deceased and injured, while Chief Minister Kejriwal pledged to hold those responsible for negligence accountable.