Ten newborn babies died Saturday in a fire at the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra.
It’s reported that seven babies were rescued, as the total number was 17.
“At around 1.30 a.m., a staff nurse found smoke in the out-born ward of the hospital,” Pramod Khandate, Chief Surgeon at Bhandara District General Hospital said. “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.”
“As far as possible, we personally took the babies out and, in the next five minutes, the fire brigade reached there,” Khandate added. “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.”
The 7 babies, who were rescued, were born in the hospital needed special care in the ICU, while the 10 babies that could not be saved in out-born were those born in other hospitals in the taluka and were brought in for special care due to birth complications.
The10 babies, who did not make it, were identified by family members and further procedures have been initiated.
“The rescued babies are doing good and shifted to another room,” Khandate noted. “We also shifted the patients of the nearby wards — ICU, labour room and dialysis patients — to another room.”
Indian leader took to Twitter to express their deep grief at the incident, and convey condolences to the families of the children.
“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," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
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“The unfortunate incident of fire at Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra is extremely tragic,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter. “My condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives. I appeal to Maha Govt to provide every possible assistance to the families of the injured & deceased.”
[embed]https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1347735532328026113?s=08[/embed]
“The fire accident in Bhandara district hospital, Maharashtra is very unfortunate. I am pained beyond words,” Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted. “My thoughts and condolences are with bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
[embed]https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1347738824814718976?s=08[/embed]
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