NE NEWS SERVICE
MUMBAI, JAN 9
At least three of the ten infants died of burns in the Bhandara district hospital fire in Maharashtra while seven others died of suffocation caused by smoke on Saturday, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, adding that a probe is ordered and the guilty will not be spared.
He said Rs 5 lakh would be paid to family members of each of the deceased infant.
According to doctors, ten newborn babies, aged between a month and three months, died after the fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of the hospital around 1.30 am. Seven out of the 17 babies in the affected unit were rescued.
“The preliminary information available indicated that three infants died from burns in the Bhandara district civil hospital while suffocation caused by smoke is the cause of the death of seven other infants,” Tope said in a video message.
He said the hospital staff saved seven other infants admitted in the affected Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“The medical staff on duty opened the windows and doors of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit wards and shifted the infants to adjoining wards. However, they could not save the 10 infants,” he said.
Tope said, “chief minister Uddhav Thackeray informed me of sanctioning Rs five lakh to each to the family members of the deceased infants”.
He said the bodies have been sent to their respective homes for conducting the last rites.
“Persons responsible for this incident will not be spared. A detailed inquiry is ordered. We will try to avoid such incidents in the future by learning from this tragedy,” he added.
Tope said he was rushing to the Bhandara civil hospital.
CM Thackeray orders probe
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday expressed grief over the death of newborn babies in the fire at the Bhandara district hospital and ordered a probe.
Thackeray spoke to Health Minister Rajesh Tope soon after learning about the incident which occurred in the child care unit in the hospital, as per a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office.
“The Chief Minister has ordered a probe in the entire incident. He spoke to the district collector and police superintendent and asked them to probe the fire,” the statement said.
Deeply saddened by death of infants in hospital fire: Prez
President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said he was deeply saddened by the death of infants in a fire incident at a government hospital in Maharashtra and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the affected families.
“I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of infants in a fire accident in Bhandara, Maharashtra. My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their children in this heart-wrenching event,” Kovind said in a tweet in Hindi.
PM Modi expresses grief over death of newborn babies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief at a tragic fire incident in a Maharashtra hospital in which 10 newborn babies died.
“Heart-wrenching tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we have lost precious young lives. My thoughts are with all the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover as early as possible,” Modi tweeted.
Rahul appeals to state govt to provide all help to affected families
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Saturday condoled the death of newborn babies in the Maharashtra hospital fire and appealed to the state government to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured.
“The unfortunate incident of fire at Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra is extremely tragic. My condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives,” Gandhi said in a tweet.
“I appeal to Maha Govt to provide every possible assistance to the families of the injured & deceased,” he said.
The Maharashtra government is led by the Shiv Sena with the NCP and the Congress are part of the ruling dispensation.
Fadnavis demands strict action
Terming the death of ten newborn babies in a fire in the Bhandara district hospital in Maharashtra a “very painful” incident, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday demanded a thorough probe.
“The government should carry out a thorough inquiry into the incident and initiate action against those who are responsible for the death of 10 infants. It is a very painful accident,” Fadnavis, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, said in a statement.
