The fire, believed to be caused by a short circuit,
broke out in the special newborn care unit
(SNCU) of Kamla Nehru Children's Hospital
At least four infants died in a fire that broke out
in the special newborn care unit (SNCU) of
Kamla Nehru Children's Hospital here on
Monday night, prompting the government to
order a high-level probe into the incident
Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang said
a short circuit may have caused the fire and
described the situation inside the ward as "very
scary".
According to an official, the blaze started on the
third floor of the hospital, which houses the ICU
Four children died in the fire that broke out in
the special newborn care unit (SNCU) ward
probably due to a short circuit," Mr Sarang said.
We reached the spot along with others soon after
getting information about the incident. It was
dark inside the ward. We shifted the children to
the adjacent ward," he said.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has
announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the
family members of the victims, he added.
The fire broke out around 9 p.m. and around 10
fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the
flames, said Fatehgarh fire station in-charge
Juber Khan.
A short circuit may have caused the fire, he said.
A total of 40 children were admitted to the SNCU.
Of these, 36 were undergoing treatment in
different wards.
In a tweet in Hindi, Mr Chouhan said that the
rescue operation was swift and the blaze is
under control now.
A high-level probe has been ordered into the incident.
The probe will be conducted by ACS (additional
chief secretary), health and medical education,
Mohammad Suleiman," the chief minister said.
Worried parents were seen running around in
search of their children.
Angry family members of some infants alleged
that instead of saving the children, the hospital
staff fled.
While a parent was searching for his child, some
others rushed out of the hospital with their
children, eyewitnesses said.
A woman who was inside the hospital said the
ward was shrouded in smoke.
Kamla Nehru Children's Hospital is part of
Hamidia Hospital, one of the biggest government
medical facilities in the state.