Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said the health secretary is yet to respond to his calls or messages regarding the fire at a children's hospital which led to the death of seven newborns. Issuing a note to the health secretary, the minister asked to initiate an inquiry and ensure free treatment for rescued children.
In the note, Bharadwaj said, “A very unfortunate and tragic incident occurred due to fire at a Baby Care Centre in Vivek Vihar, Delhi. Though the incident occurred around 11.30pm on May 25, I got to know about this incident through a media flash. I have tried calling Secretary (Health) multiple times and left him many WhatsApp images but he has not responded yet. Therefore, I visited the incident spot alone.”
Bharadwaj added, “As I am not able to communicate with Secretary (Health) who heads the Department of Health, I am sending this note with a copy to Chief Secretary so that quick enquiry can be launched in this matter.”
Besides ensuring enquiry, Bharadwaj advised the secretary to ensure and provide “names and designations of officers or private people responsible for this negligence; Ensure free treatment of rescued children in best private hospitals (under Farishtey scheme); Compensation to families of deceased and injured; and expedite the arrests of who were running the Centre.”
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has deployed a team to probe the fire incident. In a post on X, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said the commission has taken cognisance of the fire incident and the newborns' deaths. “An NCPCR team will visit the hospital to investigate the incident,” he said.
