At least 7 newborns have died after a massive fire broke out at a children's hospital in Vivek Vihar Hospital in Delhi on Saturday night. Reportedly a total of 12 newborns were rescued from the hospital and 5 of them are currently undergoing medical treatment.
The rescued children were taken to another hospital where six were declared brought dead while one died during treatment.
The bodies have been sent to GTB Hospital for post-mortem.
PTI report said that the Delhi Fire Services said it received a call at 11.32 pm and nine fire tenders were rushed to the site.
PM Modi and President Murmu Expresses Condolence
PM Modi in post on X expressed his condolence, saying, "The fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi is heart-rending. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this incredibly difficult time. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest."
The office of PM has announced ex-gratia for the bereaved families, they wrote in a post, "In the wake of the fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi, the Prime Minister has announced that an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be given to each of those injured."
Reacting to the incident, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu said, "The news of death of many children due to fire in a hospital in Vivek Vihar, Delhi is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and relatives to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of other children injured in this incident."
How Did Delhi Administration Respond?
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal responding to the incident called it 'heart-rendering'. He said that the reasons behind the fire is under investigation and also assured, "those responsible for negligence won't be spared".
In a post on X, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, "Very unfortunate incident reported. I have asked Secretary(Health) to update about the current situation. Culprits will not be spared. Strictest punishment will be ensured for those found negligent or involved in any wrong doing."
Following the incident, Bharadwaj sent directions to Health Secretary SB Deepak Kumar and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar.
In the communication, he said directions were emailed to Deepak Kumar since he was not responding to phone calls and messages.
Bharadwaj ordered a speedy inquiry and sought the names and designations of officers or private people responsible for the "negligence".
He has also issued directions to ensure free treatment of the rescued infants in the best private hospitals under the city government's Farishtey scheme.
In a post on X, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson (NCPCR) Priyank Kanoongo said the commission has taken cognisance of the fire incident and the newborns' deaths.
An NCPCR team will visit the hospital to investigate the incident, Kanoongo said.
Lt Governor VK Saxena on Sunday directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to "institute an inquiry" into the incident.
"Have asked the chief secretary to institute an inquiry into the tragic incidents of fire in children's hospital in Delhi. Also instructed CP (commissioner of police) to ensure all that is needful," Saxena said in a post on X. "My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families."
"I assure all relief and will ensure that guilty are brought to book," Saxena added.
According to DFS chief Atul Garg said that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
"A fire call from Baby Care Centre, near ITI, Block B of Vivek Vihar area was received. A total of nine fire tenders were dispatched," Garg said.
The incident came on a day at least 27 persons were killed in Gujarat's Rajkot city when a massive fire swept through a crowded game zone and the building collapsed.
