Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 9 (EMN): In a shocking tragedy, at least 10 newborn babies were suffocated in a fire that erupted in a government hospital’s children ward in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district early on Saturday morning, officials said.
At least 10 infants -- a majority of them were less than 3-month- old -- had perished due to suffocation and another seven were saved, according to an IANS report.
It stated that the fire, suspected to be caused by an electrical short-circuit, erupted at around 1:45 am when the mothers and relatives of the infants were fast asleep and quickly engulfed the Sick and Newborn Care Unit of the Bhandara District General Hospital.
Around that time, a nurse on duty happened to pass by the ward, noticed the smoke inside and raised an alarm as other hospital staffers rushed to the spot.
Though the police have not declared the cause of the blaze, it is suspected that an electrical short-circuit had led to an air-conditioner blast, followed by a fire with thick smoke billowing in the ward and the resultant deaths due to suffocation, the report stated.
Taking a strong note of the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackery has ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire in the district, around 900 km from Mumbai. He also expressed anguish over the tragedy and discussed the matter with Health Minister Rajesh Tope and district authorities, and said stringent punishment must be given to those found responsible.
Thackeray and Tope have also spoken to the Collector and Superintendant of Police of Bhandara and directed them to take up immediate relief measures, it stated.
Tope announced that a compensation of INR 5 lakh would be given to the parents of each of the deceased infants while a probe would be conducted and the guilty would be punished severely.
District Surgeon Dr. Pramod Khandate told media persons that the hospital staff and fire brigade managed to rescue seven infants from the ‘inbound ward’ after battling the blaze with fire-extinguishers.
Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, District Guardian Minister Vishwajeet Kadam, Maharashtra Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar, other senior leaders have expressed grief over the incident.
"I am deeply shocked by the fire incident in Bhandara. My heartfelt sympathies with the families of those who have lost their infants in the tragedy," Kovind said.
"Heart-wrenching tragedy 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 said in a message.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "The fire accident in Bhandara district hospital, Maharashtra is very unfortunate. I am pained beyond words. My thoughts and condolences are with bereaved families..."
"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. I appeal to Maharashtra government to provide every possible assistance to the families of the injured and deceased," Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said.
(With inputs from IANS)