Three Newborns Killed After Fire Breaks Out in Maharashtra Hospital NICU

Three newborns were killed after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a government hospital in Maharashtra’s Amravati district early Monday, officials said.

The incident occurred at the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati during the early hours of the day. According to officials, the fire broke out at around 3.15 am in the NICU located on the third floor of the hospital.

A ventilator inside the unit reportedly developed a spark, which triggered the fire. The blaze quickly raised concern among hospital staff, who immediately began evacuating the newborns from the affected unit.

Doctors, nurses and other personnel on duty rushed to the NICU and shifted the infants to safety as the fire spread through the unit. Despite the evacuation efforts, three newborns died, officials confirmed.

Six other infants were subsequently admitted to a super-speciality hospital for further medical care and monitoring. Their condition was not immediately disclosed by officials.

The incident has raised concerns over fire safety and electrical equipment in critical-care units, where newborns require continuous medical support and are particularly vulnerable during emergencies.

Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances that led to the ventilator sparking and the subsequent outbreak of fire. The hospital administration is also likely to assess whether the NICU had adequate fire-prevention and emergency-response arrangements in place.

The deaths have caused concern among families and raised questions about safety protocols at government healthcare facilities. Further details regarding the cause of the fire, the identities of the deceased newborns and the condition of the six infants undergoing treatment are awaited.

Officials said the immediate priority was to evacuate the affected infants and provide medical care to those who survived the incident. A detailed assessment of the fire and the hospital’s safety arrangements is expected to follow.