The fire that broke out at Bhandara General Hospital two days ago, which killed 10 infants, was likely caused by an explosion in one of the several radiant warmers in the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), as per the officials who carried out a preliminary inspection at the hospital on Sunday, January 10.
While it was suspected that the fire started after the explosion in the radiant warmer. However, members of the inquiry committee are yet to reach a final conclusion.
The radiant warmer burst into flames after the explosion — the first of two loud noises heard by hospital staff that night — and the seven-day-old baby inside was found burnt like coal, officials said.
The state government also formed a six-member team headed by the director of the health department to find out the cause behind the fire and lapses and submit its report.
According to reports, the probe team will also review the fire safety measures and other technical factors besides giving suggestions to prevent recurrence of such incidents in any hospital in the state.
There were 17 babies in the unit of whom only seven could be rescued from the 'inbound ward' of the unit. Three of the ten infants died of burn injuries while seven others died of suffocation caused by smoke, reports suggested.
Moreover, the fire tragedy has also brought to fore several serious safety lapses on part of the hospital administration. It has come to light that the hospital had no alarm system and sprinklers, and that staff there are not trained to use fire extinguishers.
The four-storey hospital had conducted only one mock drill in 2016-17 and a fire audit was also pending for the past two years.
In the latest update, it has come across that Prime Minister Narendra has approved an ex-gratia of INR 2 lakhs each from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the tragic hospital fire in Bhandara, Maharashtra. The statement released by the PMO stated that INR 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered an inquiry into the Bhandara District General Hospital fire and also met the families of the babies on the same day.
Read More: 10 infants killed in fire at Maharashtra hospital; CM Thackeray orders inquiry
Expressing his grief over the incident, the state Health Minister Rajesh Tope also announced a compensation of INR 5 lakhs for the kin of children who died in the fire.
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