Chhindwara: Three newborn babies suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Chhindwara District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of Saturday, August 22.
According to hospital officials, the incident occurred at around 1:50 am after a spark developed in the filament of a warmer being used inside the NICU. The warmer subsequently caught fire, injuring three newborns.
Three Newborns Referred To Jabalpur Medical College
Chhindwara District Hospital Civil Surgeon Kanchan Dubey said specialists were called immediately to examine the injured babies. The Dean and Medical Superintendent of Chhindwara District Medical College were also involved in assessing their condition.
Following the examination, all three newborns were referred to Jabalpur Medical College for advanced treatment.
Dubey said the warmer itself was not faulty and had been undergoing regular maintenance. According to the preliminary assessment, the spark originated in the filament responsible for generating heat. The precise reason behind the sparking, however, is yet to be established.
30 Other Babies Shifted To Safety
There were 33 newborns inside the unit when the incident occurred. While three suffered burns, hospital staff managed to move the remaining 30 babies to safety.
Dubey credited nurses, guards and other staff members for responding quickly after the fire broke out and evacuating the children.
The newborns were initially moved to another unit as a precaution. Electricians and other hospital staff remained at the site for around two hours and inspected the equipment before the babies were shifted back.
Probe To Examine Possible Lapses
An administrative inquiry will be conducted to establish the circumstances that led to the incident and determine whether there were any lapses.
Dubey said she did not see evidence of negligence at the preliminary stage and described the incident as appearing to be an accident. A final determination, however, will depend on the investigation.
Hospital authorities have said the warmers undergo annual maintenance and that maintenance records are maintained. Officials are now trying to determine what caused the filament to spark despite the equipment being under regular upkeep.
