Probe ordered after NICU fire at Amravati hospital kills three newborns

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has ordered stringent action against those found responsible for the August 24 fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the Amravati District Women’s Hospital, in which three newborns died. A high-level inquiry into the incident has been completed and its report submitted to the government. Based on the findings, disciplinary proceedings have been ordered against officials and employees for negligence, irresponsible conduct, supervisory lapses and failure to discharge their duties. Thirty-six newborns were safely shifted to other hospitals immediately after the incident.Faulty Equipment Maintenance And Failed Fire Systems ExposedThe inquiry found that the ventilators had not undergone necessary periodic maintenance and repairs. The fire alarm and sprinkler systems were non-functional, while the fire pump house was found locked. Serious lapses were also detected in the maintenance and technical inspection of equipment.Disciplinary action under Rule 8 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, has been ordered against the concerned officials and employees. Administrative action will also be taken against contractual workers, while action has been sought against Public Works Department officials found responsible for the lapses.Senior Hospital Officials Suspended Over Supervisory FailuresThe government has ordered the suspension of the Deputy Director, Health Services, Akola Circle; the Medical Superintendent of Amravati Women’s Hospital; the Additional District Surgeon, Amravati; the Administrative Officer; and the electrician of the hospital for their prima facie responsibility for supervisory failures.The inquiry committee found M/s AOV International LLP responsible for lapses and recommended action to blacklist the company. Prima facie deficiencies were also found in the services provided by Shilar Company. The government has directed that its forensic report be obtained immediately and action initiated to blacklist the company if found responsible.Government Announces Measures To Prevent Future Hospital FiresThe government has ordered a series of measures to prevent similar incidents in future. CCTV systems will be installed in SNCUs and NICUs, while fire-safety mock drills will be made mandatory in all government hospitals.Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering fire safety, electrical safety and maintenance of medical equipment will be implemented strictly.City Youth & School Students Get Hands-On Training For Making Eco-Friendly Ganpati Idols At Workshop Organised By FPJ & BMCHealth Services Commissioner Sanjay Katkar has been directed to hold regular meetings with the Public Works, electrical, fire, biomedical and maintenance agencies to review hospital safety and ensure effective implementation of corrective measures.All district collectors, chief executive officers of Zilla Parishads and municipal commissioners have been directed to complete electrical and fire-safety audits of all hospitals under their jurisdiction within three months. The Health Services Commissioner has also been instructed to ensure implementation and monitoring of fire audits in public and private hospitals and submission of compliance reports through district surgeons.The government has also directed that officers and employees who risked their lives to evacuate newborns to safety during the fire be formally felicitated for their efforts.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Four officials and a technician were suspended following an inquiry into a hospital fire. The inquiry found serious lapses in maintenance and safety systems at the Amravati hospital. Two private companies were also blacklisted due to their involvement in the incident. The government will now strengthen safety measures in state-run hospitals across Maharashtra. Officials and staff who rescued infants during the fire will be felicitated.

Three newborn babies died and 36 were rescued after an explosion at Amravati’s government maternity hospital, a key healthcare facility serving the district and surrounding areas, including women with critical pregnancies. Snehal Mutha speaks to survivors, rescuers and hospital staff, who flag lapses in fire safety audits

Nine babies, in need of intensive or specialised medical care, were in the NICU when the staff noticed smoke coming out of an AC unit

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Health Department and district administration have taken serious note of the fire that broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Amravati District Women’s Hospital in the early hours of August 24, claiming the lives of three newborn babies. Authorities have assured a detailed investigation into the incident and strict action against those found responsible.Minister Meghna Bordikar visits hospital after tragedyMaharashtra Minister Meghna Bordikar and MLA Pratap Adsad visited the District Women’s Hospital on Thursday and inspected the site of the tragedy. Addressing a press conference, they said the incident would be thoroughly investigated and action would be taken against those responsible as per the law.Senior health officials, including Dr Sushil Wakchaure, Deputy Director of Health Services, Akola Circle, District Civil Surgeon Dr Vinod Pawar, District Health Officer Dr Pravin Parise and Additional District Health Officer Dr Harshal Kshirsagar, also inspected the hospital and reviewed the situation.Newborns shifted to private hospitals monitoredFollowing the incident, officials visited four private hospitals—Murke, Hope, Parijat and PDMMC—where 36 newborns had been admitted for treatment. They reviewed the health condition of the infants with doctors and interacted with their parents.Three Kalyan-Dombivli Pilgrims Go Missing In Nepal During Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Families Seek HelpA meeting of senior officials was subsequently held at the Government Rest House to review the treatment arrangements, safety measures and current condition of the newborns, besides discussing further steps. Officials also met the committee constituted to investigate the fire and provided necessary guidance regarding the probe.The Health Department and district administration have reiterated that the investigation will be completed to establish the facts and fix responsibility. At the same time, ensuring proper treatment and the safety of newborn babies has been accorded the highest priority.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that three newborns died and four others were injured in a fire incident at the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the District Women's Hospital at Amravati, Maharashtra on 24th August 2026. Reportedly, the incident occurred due to a blast in the ventilator machine.NHRC flags possible human rights violationThe Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of health of the injured babies and disbursement of compensation announced by the government.NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of Alleged Rape Of 57-Year-Old Patient In Panipat HospitalAccording to the media report, carried on 25th August 2026, there were nine babies in the SNCU when the incident happened. The condition of one of the four injured babies has been reported to be critical.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati in the early hours of Monday, prompting the Maharashtra government to order a high-level inquiry into the tragedy.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the deaths and said the government would provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family of each deceased child. He also directed the Amravati district administration to ensure that the medical treatment of injured children was provided entirely at government expense.Families of deceased newborns to receive ₹5 lakh assistance from state governmentFadnavis said a high-level investigation would determine the exact cause of the fire and establish whether all required safety procedures had been followed. He questioned whether the hospital’s mandatory fire audit had been properly conducted and whether any lapses had been recorded only on paper.“Those responsible for the deaths of these innocent children will face stringent action,” Fadnavis said, stressing that no one found responsible would be spared.Seven-member committee formed to investigate circumstances behind NICU firePublic Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar, who visited the hospital and inspected the site, said the incident was extremely unfortunate and warranted a detailed investigation. He announced the formation of a seven-member committee headed by Health Department Commissioner Sanjay Katkar to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire.The committee will include senior officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, AIIMS and the Directorate of Medical Education and Research. It has been asked to submit its report within eight days.According to Abitkar, the committee will examine several aspects, including possible faults in ventilators and electrical systems, the fire audit conducted at the hospital and any other administrative or technical irregularities that may have contributed to the tragedy.MMC Resumes Registration Of BHMS-CCMP Doctors After Maharashtra Withdraws Temporary Halt OrderThe Health Minister said the hospital had been opened only two years ago and was equipped with modern medical facilities. He said such an incident should not have occurred and stressed the need to identify the lapses and implement corrective measures to prevent similar tragedies.Abitkar also visited Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Medical College to review the condition of newborns who were undergoing treatment after being rescued from the fire.In view of the incident, the government also plans to review fire safety arrangements in government and private hospitals across Maharashtra. The Health Minister said discussions would be held with the heads of concerned agencies at Mantralaya and necessary directions would be issued to hospitals to ensure regular and proper fire audits.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

A fire erupted in Amravati's District Women's Hospital neonatal unit early this morning. Thirty-six infants were rescued, but three newborns tragically died in the blaze. Eyewitnesses reported that fire alarms remained silent and sprinklers did not function. Parents and security guards rushed into the smoke-filled ward to save the babies. Grieving families alleged hospital administration negligence led to the devastating incident.

Three newborns died in a fire at the Amravati District Women's Hospital's NICU. The blaze reportedly started from a malfunctioning ventilator in the critical care unit. One father learned of his son's death after hours of frantic searching. The incident has raised serious concerns about hospital safety arrangements. This tragedy turned a night of celebration into profound grief for families.

Following the fire that broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of District Women’s Hospital in Amravati that killed nearly three new born babies, District Magistrate Ashish Yerekar on Monday said that regular fire audits were conducted at the hospital. He further stated that an investigation into the incident is underway and assured that no one would be spared if anyone is found guilty or responsible for any lapse. Speaking to reporters, Yerekar dismissed claims that the fire audit had been skipped, stating, “No, the fire audit for last year was indeed conducted, and they have also applied for this year's fire audit with the PWD Electrical wing. I have seen the documents myself, so it is not the case that the fire audit was skipped.”#WATCH | Amravati, Maharashtra: Ashish Yerekar, District Magistrate, says, "No, the fire audit for last year was indeed conducted, and they have also applied for this year's fire audit with the PWD Electrical wing. I have seen the documents myself, so it is not the case that the… https://t.co/cV362Uqdru pic.twitter.com/29V2L8ANpA— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2026 Probe focuses on equipmentAddressing the possible cause of the fire, Yerekar said the focus of the investigation was on the equipment involved, particularly the unit that triggered the automatic alert. “We need to examine what fault lies within it,” he said.He further assured that accountability would be fixed if any administrative negligence was found. “If any administrative lapse comes to light, no one will be spared. We will fix accountability for everyone involved. However, if there is a fault in the company's equipment, we will take strict action against the company as well,” Yerekar added.Three newborns die in NICU fireAccording to preliminary information, the blaze erupted at around 3:30 am on the third floor, reportedly following an explosion involving a ventilator inside the neonatal unit.#WATCH | Amravati, Maharashtra: Three newborn babies lost their lives after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital. According to preliminary information, the fire erupted at around 3.30 am on the third floor of the hospital,… pic.twitter.com/fhSQvykujw— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2026 Following the incident, the doctors, nurses and other staff members immediately launched an evacuation operation and rescued several infants from the ward.At the time of the incident, around 35 newborn babies were reportedly admitted to the hospital. Three infants suffered fatal burn injuries, while six others were shifted to the Super Speciality Hospital for further treatment.Father recounts fire incidentMoreover, speaking about the tragic incident, a father of one of the infants admitted to the hospital described the incident, saying his wife saw the fire and alerted the nursing staff. #WATCH | Amravati, Maharashtra: Father of an infant who was admitted to the District Women's Hospital says, "The incident occurred around 3:30 to 4 AM. My wife had gone to the ICU when she heard the sound of an explosion. She saw a fire and alerted the nursing staff... The blaze… https://t.co/cV362Uqdru pic.twitter.com/qyBsb9oS5f— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2026 He further added "We demand that the government cover the costs for our children who have been admitted to private hospitals and ensure they receive proper treatment."Investigation into fire underwayThe investigation into the incident is underway, with authorities probing the exact cause of the fire and examining whether there were any administrative or equipment-related lapses.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

The fire broke out at around 3:15 am in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on the third floor of the District Women's Hospital. A ventilator reportedly sparked and triggered the fire.

The fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit around 3.15 am when a ventilator sparked, an official said.

A ventilator in the outborn babies’ compartment caught fire; three of the newborns there died, while the other six babies were rescued, an official said; Amravati guardian minister Chandrakant Bawankule says he has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident

Amravati: Three newborns died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women's Hospital in Amravati in the early hours of Monday.According to preliminary information, the fire erupted at around 3.30 am on the third floor of the hospital, reportedly following an explosion in a ventilator inside the neonatal unit.#WATCH | Amravati, Maharashtra: Three newborn babies lost their lives after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women’s Hospital. According to preliminary information, the fire erupted at around 3.30 am on the third floor of the hospital,… pic.twitter.com/fhSQvykujw— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2026 Doctors, nurses and other staff on duty immediately launched an evacuation operation and managed to rescue several infants from the ward.Around 39 newborns were reportedly admitted to the unit at the time of the incident. However, three babies suffered fatal burn injuries in the blaze. Six infants have been shifted to the Super Speciality Hospital for further treatment.The timely response of the hospital staff helped save several other newborns. Further details regarding the cause of the fire and the condition of the rescued infants are awaited.'Saw Her Put Intestines Into Bag': Woman Kills Husband, Disembowels Him And Jumps Off Terrace In Panic As Landlord Catches Her In Kurukshetra Earlier, in a separate incident, three newborns sustained burn injuries after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Chhindwara District Hospital, Madhya Pradesh, in the early hours of Saturday, officials said.Civil Surgeon of the district hospital, Kanchan Dubey, said the incident occurred at around 1:50 am when a spark in the filament of a warmer used in the NICU caused the equipment to catch fire, resulting in burn injuries to three newborns."There were 30 other children there, making a total of 33. Three babies were affected and the remaining 30 were immediately shifted to safety by our staff, including nurses and guards, who acted promptly and saved their lives," she said. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Three newborns die as ventilator explodes at Amravati hospital in Maharashtra: What we know so far

babies dead after ventilator blast causes massive fire at Maharashtra hospital

Three newborns died after a fire broke out in Amravati District Women's Hospital's NICU. The blaze reportedly started following an explosion in a ventilator on the hospital's third floor. Doctors and staff quickly evacuated thirty-nine newborns from the intensive care unit. Six critically ill infants were transferred to a super-speciality hospital for care. The exact cause of the ventilator explosion and subsequent fire is still under investigation.

Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff rushed to the ward after the fire broke out and began evacuating the babies.