A short circuit triggered a sudden fire at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Gandhi Memorial Hospital late Thursday night, sending a wave of panic through the facility. Staff on duty managed to bring the blaze under control using fire extinguishers, preventing what could have been a major tragedy.

The fire broke out around 11:30 pm when sparks from an electrical short spread quickly within the ward. Nurses on night duty noticed the smoke first and raised an alarm.

Panic and Evacuation

Within minutes, the ward turned chaotic. Family members waiting outside rushed toward the unit as smoke began filling the corridor. Some parents were seen carrying their newborns in their arms while staff guided others to safer sections of the hospital.

"All infants were moved to a different ward within 10 minutes. The staff acted quickly without waiting for fire brigade arrival," a hospital source said.

Local authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported.

Maintenance Work Stopped for Months

Behind the scare lies a larger administrative failure. Sources familiar with the matter said the agency responsible for electrical maintenance had stopped all work at the hospital several months ago. The reason? Non-payment by the medical college dean's office.

According to hospital insiders, repeated requests for clearing pending dues were ignored. As a result, basic upkeep of electrical systems and life-saving equipment had been neglected for nearly four months.

Previous Warnings Ignored

This is not the first time questions have been raised about infrastructure safety at GMH. Last year, doctors had flagged faulty wiring in two other wards. In June, a minor electrical malfunction had disrupted oxygen supply briefly, though no serious injury followed.

Despite these warnings, hospital management failed to initiate repairs or allocate funds for overdue maintenance contracts.

What Next?

District health officials have ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident. A report has been sought from the hospital superintendent within three days. Meanwhile, opposition leaders in Rewa have demanded strict action against those responsible for withholding maintenance payments.

For now, the newborns remain under observation in an adjoining ward. Staff say all are stable. But parents who spent the night outside the hospital corridors are not easily reassured.