A newborn baby died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Chhindwara District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh during the early hours of Saturday. Three newborns, aged between six and 12 days, were reportedly caught in the fire after a suspected short circuit in a plug set fire to the cot in which they were being kept. All three babies were initially treated at the district hospital before being referred to Jabalpur Medical College. One of them, reportedly a baby girl, died while being taken to Jabalpur.

The fire occurred between around 2 am and 3 am, according to the information provided. The three newborns were in the same cot when the suspected electrical fault occurred. Dr Kanchan Dubey said the exact extent of the burns had not yet been established and that the children might require surgical treatment. Since a paediatric surgeon was not available at Chhindwara District Hospital, the babies were referred to Jabalpur at around 5 am. According to the father of the deceased child, Aditya Verma, his wife had been admitted to the hospital three days earlier for delivery and gave birth to the baby girl at around 10:30 pm on Friday.

Fire Started Inside NICU

According to the preliminary account, a short circuit occurred in a plug inside the NICU and the electrical fault triggered a fire in the cot holding the three newborns. The flames then spread to plastic material and clothes placed in or around the cot. Hospital staff reportedly used fire extinguishers immediately after noticing the flames and shifted the babies out of the affected area. They were given initial treatment before being referred to Jabalpur.

More than 20 newborns and three staff members were reportedly present in the NICU when the incident occurred. The fire remained confined to one unit, which sustained damage. The three affected babies had been admitted to the NICU after developing infections following birth. The incident has raised concerns among the families of patients, who have sought clarity on the electrical safety arrangements and emergency preparedness inside the neonatal unit.

Police Begin Investigation

Police reached the hospital after being informed about the incident and have started examining the circumstances surrounding the fire. CCTV footage is also being checked as part of the investigation. Hospital authorities are separately examining the cause of the suspected short circuit and the safety arrangements inside the NICU. The exact cause of the electrical fault and whether there were any lapses in maintenance or safety procedures will become clearer after the inquiry.

The families of the affected children have also requested the administration to bear the cost of treatment at Jabalpur Medical College. Relatives said they are financially constrained and may find it difficult to manage the expenses associated with prolonged treatment outside Chhindwara. Meanwhile, the condition of the other two injured newborns and the extent of their burns will require further medical assessment at Jabalpur. The death of one baby during the transfer has added urgency to the investigation into the hospital fire.

The accused, Dr Santosh Kumar Patel, was arrested by the ACB's Bilaspur unit during a planned trap operation on Wednesday night. Officials said the doctor had allegedly demanded the money in exchange for forwarding salary-related pay data required for the release of the complainant's pending wages.

According to the ACB, the complainant, Ganga Prasad Ratnakar, is a Grade-II pharmacist who has been attached to the District Hospital in Sakti since February 2026. His original posting is at the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) office in Portha, Sakti district.

Ratnakar alleged that despite performing his duties, his salary for May and June 2026 had not been processed because the required pay data had not been forwarded to the CMHO office. He claimed that Dr Patel demanded ₹20,000 per month for forwarding his pay records from February to June 2026, taking the total alleged bribe demand to ₹1 lakh.

Instead of paying the amount, the pharmacist approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau and lodged a formal complaint. After verifying the allegations, ACB officials concluded that a prima facie case existed and decided to organise a trap operation.

According to investigators, Dr Patel instructed the complainant to bring the money to Dabhra on July 23. The meeting was reportedly fixed near Dabhra College Chowk, where the complainant arrived in a Scorpio vehicle carrying the marked currency notes provided as part of the trap.

Officials said that at around 9 pm, the accused entered the complainant's vehicle and accepted the cash. The ACB team, which had been monitoring the transaction, immediately intervened and caught the Civil Surgeon while he was allegedly in possession of the bribe amount.

The entire sum of ₹1 lakh was recovered from the accused at the spot. Following the arrest, the ACB registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and initiated further legal proceedings.

Investigators are now examining whether similar demands were made from other employees in the department and whether additional officials were involved in the alleged corruption. Officials indicated that further questioning and scrutiny of official records would form part of the investigation.

The arrest has triggered concern within the district's health administration, where the accused held a key supervisory position at the government hospital. The incident has also raised questions regarding administrative procedures linked to salary processing and internal oversight in the health department.

The ACB has reiterated that government employees facing demands for illegal gratification should report such incidents instead of paying bribes. Officials said public cooperation remains an important factor in identifying and acting against corruption in government offices.

The investigation is continuing, and the agency is expected to present the accused before the competent court while pursuing additional evidence in the case.

A tragic incident at the District Hospital in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh, has sparked controversy after a pregnant woman and her unborn child died shortly before a scheduled delivery procedure. The incident led to protests by family members and local residents, who accused hospital staff of medical negligence and demanded strict action against those responsible.

The deceased, identified as 19-year-old Pooja Manikpuri from Ramnagar village, was admitted to the Maternal and Child Health Wing of the district hospital on Tuesday morning after experiencing labor pain. According to hospital sources, doctors had planned a surgical delivery considering her medical condition. However, before the procedure could take place, both the mother and the unborn child died.

The incident triggered emotional scenes at the hospital, with grieving relatives gathering outside the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) office and demanding an impartial investigation.

Family Alleges Wrong Injection

According to the woman's husband, Suraj Manikpuri, his wife’s condition deteriorated shortly after she was administered an injection at the hospital. He alleged that the medication was given without adequately informing the family and claimed that her health worsened immediately afterward.

Family members have accused the hospital of negligence and submitted a formal complaint seeking action against those involved. They have also called for a transparent inquiry into the circumstances leading to the deaths.

Relatives said the woman had been admitted around 9 a.m. and was being prepared for delivery when the incident occurred. By afternoon, doctors had declared both the mother and child dead.

Doctors Cite Medical Complications

Hospital officials have denied allegations of negligence and stated that the patient was already facing health complications. According to the attending doctor, the woman had a history of blood pressure-related issues, which were affecting blood supply to the fetus.

Doctors said preparations were underway for a surgical procedure when a prescribed injection was administered as part of the treatment protocol. Shortly afterward, the patient reportedly developed severe vomiting.

Medical staff claim that the vomit entered her airway, causing respiratory complications that ultimately led to her death. Hospital authorities stated that such reactions can occur in certain cases, though determining the exact cause of death will require medical examination and expert review.

Investigation Teams Formed

Following the protests, health authorities moved quickly to initiate an inquiry. The Chief Medical and Health Officer has constituted separate committees to investigate the incident and oversee the post-mortem examination.

Officials confirmed that a panel of medical experts will conduct the post-mortem procedure to establish the precise cause of death. The findings are expected to play a crucial role in determining whether any lapse occurred during treatment.

Authorities emphasized that conclusions would be drawn only after receiving the post-mortem report and the findings of the inquiry committee.

Questions Over Maternal Healthcare

The incident has once again raised concerns about maternal healthcare services and emergency medical response in public hospitals. Cases involving maternal deaths often draw significant public attention and underline the importance of strict medical protocols and patient safety measures.

Health officials have assured the family that the investigation will be conducted fairly and that appropriate action will be taken if negligence is established.

Rewa Head-On Collision: 5 Hurt, Women & Child Among Injured

High-Speed Pickup Rams Auto

A head-on collision between a speeding pickup and an auto-rickshaw left five persons injured early Saturday morning. The accident occurred near Shivpur village under Panwar police station limits in Rewa district. Among the injured were four women, one child, and the auto driver. Officials confirmed that two of the victims are in critical condition.

Immediate Rescue Operations Launched

Locals rushed to the spot after hearing a loud crash. The impact of the collision was so severe that the auto-rickshaw was completely mangled. Residents immediately alerted 108 ambulance services and dialled 112. Police arrived within minutes and, with help from villagers, pulled out the trapped passengers. All five were first taken to the Community Health Centre in Jawa for primary treatment.

Two Referred To District Hospital

Medical officers at Jawa CHC identified Yogendra Yadav (38), a resident of Ghooman, and Rajkumari Yadav from Devri as the seriously injured. Their condition reportedly deteriorated during initial treatment. Doctors referred both to Rewa District Hospital for advanced care. The remaining three injured are stable and continue to receive treatment at Jawa CHC.

Pickup And Auto Seized By Police

Police reached the site and secured both vehicles. The pickup was coming from the opposite direction when it lost control, as per preliminary findings. Police have seized the auto and the pickup and sent them to the police station for mechanical inspection. An officer confirmed that a case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

Locals Allege Minors Driving Without Licences

Villagers at the scene raised concerns over rising reckless driving in the area. Residents claimed that unauthorised vehicles, especially e-rickshaws, are often driven by minors in the tarai belt. “Accidents have become frequent because nobody checks licences here,” said a local shopkeeper who witnessed the crash. Police have not yet confirmed if the pickup driver was a minor.

Rising Road Accidents In Focus

Data from recent months shows a spike in road mishaps across Rewa district. The Rewa police administration had earlier issued advisories against over-speeding on narrow village roads. However, compliance remains low. Saturday’s accident has once again brought attention to weak enforcement of traffic rules in rural areas. Officials admit that patrolling on interior routes is not consistent.

Police Investigation Underway

Police are recording statements from eyewitnesses. Officials indicated that CCTV cameras from nearby shops are being scanned to ascertain the exact cause. The pickup driver fled the spot after the collision, according to sources. Police teams are now trying to trace the vehicle owner. Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken under the Motor Vehicles Act.

What Happens Next

Rewa district administration has directed health officials to ensure the best possible care for the critical patients. Police will file a final report after completing the mechanical inspection and collecting all evidence. Locals demand a permanent checkpost on this stretch to monitor over-speeding. Meanwhile, the condition of the two referred patients will determine if further legal action under negligent driving sections is added.