Tragic Hospital Fire Claims Lives of Six Infants in New Delhi
A devastating fire at the New Born Baby Care hospital in New Delhi resulted in the deaths of six newborns on Saturday, May 25. The tragic event unfolded as twelve newborns were hastily evacuated from the facility; sadly, six were already deceased by the time medical personnel could address the situation, according to local police officer Surendra Choudhary.
An explosion of an oxygen cylinder is believed to have caused the fire, which rapidly engulfed the hospital ward. The inferno necessitated the mobilization of fourteen fire trucks to quell the flames, reported Atul Garg, Chief of the Delhi Fire Department to the Press Trust of India (PTI). The rapid spread of the fire highlighted severe lapses in safety protocols.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the situation as 'heartbreaking' and assured the public that those responsible for the fatal negligence will be held accountable. 'We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families who lost their innocent children in this tragic accident,' he expressed on social media.
Additional aspects of the incident remain under investigation, and legal actions are being initiated against the hospital’s owner. The negligence displayed by the facility has sparked widespread calls for a thorough review of hospital safety measures, particularly in neonatal wards, to prevent such tragedies in the future.
- In another tragic event just a day earlier, a fire at an amusement park in the western part of India claimed the lives of twenty-seven individuals, including four children under the age of twelve. These consecutive incidents have raised serious concerns about fire safety regulations and enforcement across India.
- The public and officials alike are urging for stringent regulatory measures and routine safety audits in public facilities and healthcare institutions to safeguard against such preventable disasters. There are calls for comprehensive reforms to ensure that fire safety equipment and practices are consistently up to date and thoroughly inspected.
