NEW DELHI: Tragedy struck the national capital on the intervening night of May 25-26 when six newborns were killed after a massive fire broke out at a childcare hospital in east Delhi's Shahdara area.
According to a senior Delhi Police officer, a total of 7 infant bodies were sent for postmortem, including the body of one child who had already died just hours before the fire incident.
"The child died a couple of hours before the incident during treatment. He had some heart problems. The hospital staff had intimated his parents around 8.30 pm Saturday evening," DCP (Shahdara) Surendra Chaudhary told TNIE.
The accused owner of the hospital, identified as Dr Naveen Khichi (45) and the on duty staff, an unqualified doctor, Dr Aaksh (26), were arrested.
The inferno had broken out at a baby care hospital and some adjacent buildings around 11.30 pm on Saturday following which both the fire department and the police were alerted.
Delhi Fire Service Director Atul Garg informed that they received a call regarding the fire at a baby care hospital at 11.31 pm following which 9 fire tenders were immediately pressed into service.
By the time firemen reached the spot, the ill-fated building was already engulfed in flames. Yet the firemen and the police personnel rescued 12 infants from the building and took them to a nearby hospital in east Delhi. According to the fire officials, it took them around 70 minutes to control the inferno.
Sharing more details, DCP Chaudhary said there were 12 newborns admitted to the hospital and one more had already died even before the fire had broken out.
"All the 12 new born babIies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people and shifted to East Delhi Advance NICU hospital in Vivek Vihar for treatment. Out of these babies, 6 were declared brought dead," Chaudhary said.
He said that all the seven bodies, including one who had already died even before fire incident, were further shifted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for postmortem.
Subsequently, the police registered an FIR under sections 336 (), 304A () and 34 (common intention) of the IPC and began searching the owner of the hospital.
"Further, the hospital was thoroughly inspected by police staff, fire brigade staff and crime team. On inspection of hospital and examination of nursing staff , it was found that there was no fire extinguisher, improper entry exit, absence of emergency exit," the DCP said.
Shockingly, the police found that the doctors on duty were Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) in qualification. Accordingly, the police added section 304 () and 308 () of the IPC to the already registered FIR.
While the cops were searching the owner, parallely theyfound multiple shortcomings at the hospital's end during their investigation.
"License issued to the Baby Care New Born Child Hospital by DGHS, Govt. of NCT of Delhi has already expired on March 31. Even as per the expired license (issued to the said Hospital) was allowed for 5 Beds only, but at the time of incident 12 new born child were admitted in the Hospital," the senior officer said.
He said that the doctors were not qualified or competent to treat the newborn child in need of Neo-Natal Incentive care, all of them were BAMS degree holders.
"There was no Fire Extinguisher installed in the said Hospital for emergency condition in case of eruption of fire. There is no emergency exit in the Hospital in case of any untoward incident," said Chaudhary.
On further probe it was found that the ‘Baby Care New Born Child Hospital’ had 4 branches in Vivek Vihar, Delhi, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram.
The officer said that the probable cause of the fire was short circuit, however, an Electric Inspection Report from the Electric Inspector ( Labour Department) is being obtained. DFS will also give a report, he said.
Meanwhile, medics at the GTB hospital have conducted the post-mortem of seven deceased newborns.
