Six newborn babies have died after a fire erupted at a children’s hospital- New Born Baby Care Hospital in New Delhi, India, with rescue efforts by bystanders and emergency services to save the infants, police reported on Sunday. The fire department was called after the flames started at the hospital on Saturday evening. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, called the fire and deaths “heart-rending” in a post on social media.
“All the 12 newborn babies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people,” senior police officer Surendra Choudhary said in a statement, but adding that when they reached medical attention, six were dead.
“Legal action is being taken against the owner of the hospital,” Choudhary said.
There was no further details given as to how they died.
In addition to the six who died, one of the 12 infants rescued from the smoke-filled hospital was already dead before the fire started, Choudhary stated, without providing further details.
Director of Delhi’s fire department, Atul Garg, told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency that 14 fire trucks were sent to the hospital.
“The fire spread too fast due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder,” he said.
Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, called the situation “heartbreaking”. “We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident,” he said on social media. “The causes of the incident are being investigated, and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.”Modi also offered his condolences to those who lost their babies. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this incredibly difficult time,” he wrote on social media. “I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.”
Other Recent Fire Outbreak Issues In India
Aside from this devastating news, India has experienced multiple fire outbreaks, highlighting an ongoing issue with fire safety. In Delhi, two separate incidents occurred in the Azad Market and Anand Parvat Industrial Area, causing injuries and extensive property damage.
Additionally, fires in natural reserves have been problematic, such as the one in Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve, where 28 fire points were extinguished amid a heatwave, emphasizing the environmental risks posed by rising temperatures and dry conditions.
These incidents underscore the need for improved fire management and preventive measures across the country.
