Maharashtra hospital tragedy: Harsh Vardhan speaks to Maha health minister, expresses grief

16:44 January 09

Harsh Vardhan speaks to Maha health minister over Bhandara hospital incident

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan expressed condolences over the death of ten infants at Bhandara district hospital. The minister also spoke to Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope about the incident.

Taking it to Twitter, he said, "Spoke to Maharashtra Health Minister Sh @rajeshtope11ji regarding the most unfortunate incident at Bhandara district hospital where innocent children died in a fire incident. Deepest condolences to the families. Prayers for the safety of innocent new borns who could be rescued."

14:25 January 09

The government has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. Those found responsible for negligence will be strictly punished: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on the death of 10 infants at Bhandara hospital

12:44 January 09

I have been told that the prima facie of the fire at the Bhandara hospital was a short circuit. Of the 10 children, 3 died due to fire while 7 died due to smoke. Strict action will be taken against culprits: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope

11:23 January 09

Maharashtra Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has ordered for auditing all hospitals on an urgent basis following the fire incident at Bhandara  Hospital which claimed lives of 10 infants.

10:21 January 09

Probe ordered into newborns' death after families allege medical negligence  

10:16 January 09

Fadnavis demands strict action

Terming the death of ten newborn babies in a fire in the Bhandara district hospital in Maharashtra a "very painful" incident, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday demanded a thorough probe.

09:12 January 09

CM Thackeray orders probe

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday expressed grief over the death of newborn babies in the fire at the Bhandara district hospital and ordered a probe. Thackeray spoke to Health Minister Rajesh Tope soon after learning about the incident which occurred in the child care unit in the hospital, as per a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office.

09:10 January 09

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expresses grief over the fire incident at Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra that claimed lives of 10 children. "I am pained beyond words. My thoughts and condolences are with bereaved families," tweets Home Minister.

09:10 January 09

PM Narendra Modi expresses grief over the fire incident at Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra. "Heart-wrenching tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we have lost precious young lives," tweets PM Modi.

09:09 January 09

Ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each to be provided to the kin of the deceased in the fire incident at Bhandara District General Hospital: Rajesh Tope, Health Minister, Maharashtra

07:49 January 09

Maharashtra: Ten newborn babies die in Bhandara hospital fire

As ten infants died in the fire mishap at Maharastra's Bhandara District Headquarters Hospital on Saturday, the administration is yet to investigate the incident.

An official said the ward where newborn babies are kept requires a continuous supply of oxygen. 

"There were fire extinguishers and staff used them while trying to douse the fire. There was too much smoke," he added. Patients from the ICU ward, dialysis wing and labour ward (a room in a hospital set aside for childbirth) were also shifted to other wards safely, he added.

The cause of the fire in the four-storeyed building is not known but could have been the result of an electrical short circuit.

06:03 January 09

10 infants die after fire breaks out in Maharashtra hospital

Bhandara (Maharashtra):Ten infants died and at least seven others were rescued after a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) in Maharastra's Bhandara District Headquarters Hospital in the wee hours of Saturday.  

According to reports, the incident took place at around 2 AM on Saturday in the unit where newborns were kept under observation.

It soon spread all over and affected the incubators. After the hospital staff and parents spotted the fire, they broke the windows and rescued the babies, reports said.

On receiving the information, fire tenders and police immediately reached the hospital and doused the flames, reports added.

The hospital officials said a suspected short-circuit in the air-conditioner (AC) in the ward led to the fire.

"The fire broke out at around 2 AM.  The alert doctors and staff quickly evacuated the seven newborn babies from the unit. The actual cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. It is suspected that a short-circuit caused the mishap," an official said.

"Fire engines were sent to the spot. The patients were shifted to another intensive care unit," the official added.