At least seven newborns died after a massive fire broke out at a children's hospital in the Vivek Vihar area in East Delhi on Saturday night, said reports.
According to Delhi Fire Services, it received a call at 11.32 pm and nine fire tenders were rushed to the site. Though rescuers managed to evacuate 12 children, six died while undergoing treatment. One is on the ventilator and five others have been admitted to East Delhi Advance NICU Hospital.
#WATCH | Delhi: Morning visuals from a newborn Baby Care Hospital in Vivek Vihar where a massive fire broke out last night claiming the lives of 6 newborn babies.
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024
One newborn baby is on the ventilator and 5 others are admitted to a hospital. pic.twitter.com/cLvIUWIx9e
The police said that the children were rescued from the upper floors of the three-storey building, which was completely gutted.
DFS chief Atul Garg told PTI that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. "A fire call from Baby Care Centre, near ITI, Block B of Vivek Vihar area was received. A total of nine fire tenders were dispatched," Garg said.
#UPDATE | A total of 12 children were rescued, out of which 6 have died, 1 is on the ventilator and 5 others are admitted to the hospital: Delhi Fire Service
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024
A massive fire broke out at a New Born Baby Care Hospital in Vivek Vihar late last night. https://t.co/byEpTHfopm
Calling the operation a tough one, Garg said the personnel were made into two teams. "One team started firefighting because there was a blast of cylinders, a chain blast. We had to save ourselves too. The other team started the rescue operations for babies. Unfortunately, we could not save all the children," he said.
Besides the hospital building, two floors of a residential building on the right side also caught fire. The fire was extinguished by Sunday morning.
Remains of the cylinders that caught fire |Sanjay Ahlawat
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said all the newborns died due to suffocation. "I tried calling the health secretary but he is not picking up. We will take such strict action that none of the officials commit such negligence in future. We are with the families who have lost their babies. I'll talk to the DCP regarding this," he said.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to X to condole the deaths. "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 on the spot. The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared," he posted.
Police said action is being initiated against the owner of the hospital identified as Naveen Kichi. The resident of Paschim Vihar is still absconding.
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said the death of children due to a fire in a hospital in Delhi is heart-rending and prayed for strength to the bereaved parents.
"The news of death of many children due to fire in a hospital in Vivek Vihar, Delhi is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and relatives to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of other children injured in this incident," the president said in a post on X in Hindi.
