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.