The fire erupted around 1 pm in the gynaecology ward, with flames reported inside the operation theatre. Hospital authorities later acknowledged that the body of a newborn, delivered during a surgical procedure, was left inside the OT during the evacuation and was subsequently burnt in the blaze. The administration officially confirmed the incident close to midnight, nearly 11 hours later, leading to widespread criticism.
Hospital superintendent Rahul Mishra said the baby was stillborn during the operation. He stated that a separate fire had broken out in the OPD area around the same time, causing panic and prompting staff to evacuate patients on priority. In the process, the newborn’s body, which was kept inside the operation theatre, could not be removed and was severely damaged by the fire.
However, family members of the patient, Kanchan Saket, a resident of Gehra village in Govindgarh, alleged that the administration attempted to conceal the incident. They claimed hospital staff secretly removed the child’s body wrapped in a sheet and failed to provide any clear information throughout the day. According to the family, the truth surfaced only after senior officials were approached late at night.
Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said he was informed only about the fire and not about the burning of the newborn’s body. He assured that a detailed investigation would be conducted and strict action taken against those found responsible.
The incident has also drawn attention to the hospital’s fire safety compliance. Officials confirmed that Sanjay Gandhi Hospital does not have a valid Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Sonawade said multiple notices had been issued to the hospital management for failing to meet fire safety norms, adding that similar lapses exist at other major hospitals in Rewa.
Following the incident, the health department has ordered an inquiry into the cause of the fire and the handling of the aftermath, as questions mount over accountability and patient safety in government hospitals.
