A newborn died and two others were injured after a warmer caught fire inside the neonatal care unit of the district hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the incident.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday when three newborns were being kept in a warmer at the hospital’s Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU). Hospital officials said sparks from the heating equipment apparently triggered the blaze.
All three infants suffered burn injuries and were immediately attended to by medical staff. They were subsequently referred to Jabalpur Medical College for specialised treatment. One of the newborns later died during treatment, while the other two remained under medical care.
Staff evacuate 30 other newborns
There were 33 newborns inside the neonatal unit when the fire broke out. Staff members rushed to remove the babies from the affected area, evacuating the remaining 30 infants and shifting them to another ward.
Officials said hospital personnel used fire extinguishers to bring the flames under control. The oxygen supply was also disconnected and blankets near the affected equipment were removed to prevent the fire from spreading.
The injured infants were given initial treatment at Chhindwara before being transported to Jabalpur under medical supervision. Reports said specialist doctors accompanied them during the journey.
Sparking suspected in warmer
Civil Surgeon Kanchan Dubey said preliminary information suggested that sparking in the warmer led to the fire. The hospital administration has begun examining the equipment to determine precisely what caused the malfunction.
Chhindwara Medical College Dean Dr Abhay Kumar said staff members responded quickly after noticing the fire, using an extinguisher and moving the babies to safety.
The newborn who died was already critically ill, according to hospital authorities. Officials said the infant required specialised medical intervention and was among those referred to Jabalpur for further treatment.
The incident has also brought attention to the availability of specialised paediatric services at the district hospital. According to reports, the infants had to be transferred to Jabalpur because a paediatric surgeon was not available at the Chhindwara facility.
Inquiry ordered
The hospital administration has ordered an inquiry to establish the exact circumstances behind the fire and examine the warmer and other electrical equipment in the neonatal unit.
Dubey said the incident appeared, at this stage, to have been an accident and that she had not found evidence of negligence. However, she said administrative authorities would investigate the matter.
The fire has raised concerns over equipment safety in critical-care areas where newborns depend on specialised devices for temperature regulation and other medical support. The inquiry is expected to examine the condition and maintenance of the warmer as well as the safety measures in place at the unit.