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Ten Babies Survive Daga Hospital Neonatal Ward Fire Scare
15 May
Summary
- Ten babies safely evacuated from a neonatal unit during a smoke incident.
- Electrical overload reportedly caused sparks and smoke in the newborn care unit.
- Affected newborns were transferred to other hospital units or facilities.
Ten newborns were safely evacuated from the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at Daga Memorial Govt Women's Hospital on Wednesday morning after a smoke incident. The event, which occurred around 11 am, involved minor sparking due to electrical overloading and voltage fluctuation near baby warmers, leading to brief smoke.
Hospital staff acted swiftly to switch off power and activate the fire safety system. Ten babies from the affected out-born section were relocated; five were moved to other sections within Daga Hospital, while five others were transferred to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH). All infants are reported to be stable.
The incident has prompted authorities to order a fresh electrical safety audit for the unit. Sources indicate that the hospital administration faced criticism for allegedly delaying the notification of senior health authorities about the fire for approximately 24 hours.
Medical superintendent Dr. Dilip Madavi credited the hospital's fire safety systems and staff training for the effective response. He highlighted that the presence of medical personnel during routine rounds helped manage the situation, preventing it from escalating into a more serious emergency.
