A devastating fire broke out at the New Born Baby Care Hospital in Vivek Vihar, East Delhi, on Saturday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven newborn babies. The incident has sparked outrage and allegations from local residents, who claim that the hospital owners were involved in illegal trading of oxygen cylinders.
Residents of Vivek Vihar reported hearing multiple cylinder blasts as the fire erupted around 11:30 PM. “It’s unclear whether the fire started due to a cylinder blast or if the blast occurred after the fire began,” a local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, stated. “We had previously complained to the authorities about the illegal cylinder trading, but no action was taken.“
Brijesh Kumar, a 68-year-old resident, recounted seeing trucks and vans frequently loading and unloading oxygen cylinders at the hospital, which has been operational for three years. “We used to wonder why a small hospital needed so many oxygen cylinders. Now we believe they were trading them illegally,” Kumar said. He added that the fire likely started during an illegal refilling process, causing a chain reaction among the 20-30 cylinders stored on the premises.
More Read
The fire quickly spread, trapping the newborns on the first floor while the ground and second floors were filled with cylinders and garbage, according to another resident, Vijay Jain. Jain mentioned that his daughter-in-law and son were injured while escaping the blaze.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj sends directions to Health Secretary Deepak Kumar and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in the Vivek Vihar fire incident.
— ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024
Delhi Health Minister directs for speedy enquiry into the incident, and to provide the names and designations of officers… pic.twitter.com/gxbIJLbsTf
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj confirmed that the fire was exacerbated by the explosion of oxygen cylinders. “This is a very unfortunate incident. I have directed a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Bharadwaj said. He emphasized that the owners of the hospital will face severe consequences if found guilty of negligence or illegal activities.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhary reported that 12 newborns were initially rescued from the hospital, with six declared dead upon arrival at East Delhi Advance NICU Hospital. One newborn had died before the fire was reported. The bodies have been sent to GTB Hospital for postmortem examinations. A case has been registered against the hospital owner, Naveen Khichi, who is currently absconding.
बच्चों के अस्पताल में आग की ये घटना हृदयविदारक है। इस हादसे में जिन्होंने अपने मासूम बच्चों को खोया उनके साथ हम सब खड़े हैं। घटनास्थल पर सरकार और प्रशासन के अधिकारी घायलों को इलाज मुहैया करवाने में लगे हुए हैं। घटना के कारणों की जाँच की जा रही है और जो भी इस लापरवाही का… https://t.co/eJuj2y9b1w
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 26, 2024
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as “heartbreaking.” He assured the public that the government would take stringent action against those responsible. “We stand with the bereaved families. The incident is being thoroughly investigated,” Kejriwal said.
Health Minister Bharadwaj has instructed Health Secretary Deepak Kumar and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to expedite the investigation and identify those responsible for the negligence. Immediate measures have been taken to ensure the injured children receive the best possible care, and compensation for the families of the deceased and injured has been prioritized.
Delhi Fire Service Director Atul Garg confirmed that the fire originated from an oxygen cylinder blast, which led to the rapid spread of flames throughout the building.
विवेक विहार, दिल्ली के एक अस्पताल में आग लगने से अनेक बच्चों की मृत्यु का समाचार हृदय विदारक है। ईश्वर शोक संतप्त माता-पिता एवं परिजनों को यह आघात सहने की शक्ति दें। मैं इस घटना में घायल हुए अन्य बच्चों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूँ।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 26, 2024
The fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi is heart-rending. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this incredibly difficult time. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2024
National leaders have also expressed their condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “heart-rending” and extended his thoughts to the grieving families. President Droupadi Murmu offered her prayers for the families and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
As investigations continue, the community and authorities are focused on bringing justice to the victims of this tragic event and ensuring that such a catastrophe does not happen again.
