Guwahati News Desk: At least 10 newborn babies have died after a fire broke out at around 2 am on Saturday in the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of District General Hospital in Bhandara, Maharashtra.
However, the on-duty staff rescued seven other babies.
Pramod Khandate, Chief Surgeon, Bhandara District General Hospital informed:
“At around 1.30 a.m., a staff nurse found smoke in the out-born ward of the hospital. When she went into the room, the smoke engulfed her and she could not see anything. She informed the higher authorities and all of us reached there.”
He added:
“As far as possible, we personally took the babies out, and, in the next five minutes, the fire brigade reached there. The fire brigade rescued seven babies who were in the in-born ward but 10 babies in the out-born ward could not be saved.”
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to health minister Rajesh Tope as well as district collector and superintendent of police of the district and ordered a probe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his Twitter handle expressed his grief at the incident and tweeted:
“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.“
Union home minister Amit Shah also tweeted:
“The fire accident in Bhandara district hospital, Maharashtra is very unfortunate. I am pained beyond words. My thoughts and condolences are with bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
Tope has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.