Fire at children’s hospital leaves 4 infants dead in central India
New Delhi, Nov 9 (EFE).- At least four babies have died after a fire broke out in a children’s hospital in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, according to official sources Tuesday.
The fire broke out on Monday night at the special newborn care unit of Kamala Nehru Hospital in the state capital of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh’s Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang tweeted.
Although firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the hospital “immediately” after the alarm was raised, “four children could not be saved in the accident,” while the rescued babies are being treated, Sarang said.
“This is a very sad and unfortunate accident. A high level inquiry has been ordered,” said the state minister, who also expressed his condolences to the affected families.
The families of the deceased infants will each receive compensation of 400,000 Indian rupees ($5,403).
Sarang told the media that the fire was suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.
The hospital’s fire safety equipment was not functioning, local news channel NDTV reported.
Fires, collapses and other similar accidents are frequent in India, often due to the precarious state of infrastructure and a lack of maintenance, factors that are fueled by corruption and illegal practices.
According to the latest official data, 13,099 fires were recorded in India in 2018 in government buildings, schools, residences and other places, in which 12,748 people died and 777 were injured.
At least 10 people were killed in a fire at a public hospital for Covid-19 patients in the western state of Maharashtra on Saturday.
In January, 10 newborn babies died in another hospital fire in the state, sparking outrage in the country. EFE
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