In a heart-wrenching incident, a massive fire broke out at the New Born Baby Care Hospital in East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar late on Saturday night, leading to the tragic death of seven newborns. The fire, which erupted around 11:32 PM, quickly intensified due to the presence of multiple oxygen cylinders, resulting in a series of explosions that spread the blaze further. Twelve newborns were initially rescued, but seven succumbed to their injuries and died.
The Fire Caused Due To Negligence Of The Hospital
The hospital, which has a controversial history, was found to be operating with several critical lapses. The facility lacked basic fire safety measures such as extinguishers and emergency exits. The hospital’s license, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), had expired on March 31, 2024, and allowed for only five beds, despite housing 12 newborns at the time of the incident. Additionally, the doctor on duty, Akash, was only qualified in Ayurvedic medicine and not certified to provide neonatal intensive care.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhury confirmed these discrepancies, stating, “The building had no fire extinguishers or emergency doors, and the license had expired. The presence of excessive oxygen cylinders exacerbated the fire.”
The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) dispatched nine fire tenders to the scene. DFS chief Atul Garg described the operation as challenging due to the rapid spread of the fire. “It was a very tough operation. We made two teams; one for firefighting and one for rescuing the babies. Unfortunately, we could not save all the children,” he said.
Local residents and members of the non-profit organization Shaheed Seva Dal played a crucial role in the initial rescue efforts. Jyotjeet Sabarwal, head of the disaster management wing of the NGO, recounted, “We climbed up a ladder and broke the glass of the first floor where all 12 newborn babies were kept. Everything around the children had caught fire.”
An FIR has been registered against the hospital’s owner, Dr. Naveen Khichi, under Sections 336 (negligence), 304A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Khichi, who had been absconding since the incident, was arrested along with another doctor on duty. The Delhi Police also detained the hospital’s owner after more than 12 hours on the run.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his condolences and assured strict action against those responsible. “This incident of fire in a children’s hospital is heartbreaking. We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident. Government and administration officials are busy providing treatment to the injured at the spot. The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared,” he said.
Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed these sentiments, stating, “Very unfortunate incident reported. I have asked Secretary (Health) to update about the current situation. Culprits will not be spared. Strictest punishment will be ensured for those found negligent or involved in any wrongdoing.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased. “The fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi is heart-rending. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this incredibly difficult time. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This is not the first time the hospital has faced scrutiny. In 2021, the staff was accused of assaulting a baby during treatment, which resulted in a fractured hand. The hospital was also alleged to be unregistered at that time.
Five other babies rescued from the blaze are currently receiving treatment at another hospital. The bodies of the deceased have been moved to GTB Hospital for postmortem. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognizance of the incident, with Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo deploying a team to investigate.
As investigations continue, the Delhi government and various authorities are under pressure to address the lapses that led to this tragic incident and ensure justice for the grieving families.
