Amidst the profound grief of seven families who lost their precious newborns in a tragic hospital fire in Delhi, shocking revelations have emerged, exposing grave negligence on the part of the hospital management.
The Baby Care New Born Hospital in Vivek Vihar, where the horrific incident occurred on Saturday night, was operating with an expired No Objection Certificate (NOC). The NOC, which had expired on March 31st, authorized the hospital to operate with a limited capacity of five beds. However, during the time of the fire, the hospital had admitted 12 newborns, significantly exceeding its permitted capacity.
In a further breach of safety protocols, the doctors at the hospital were not qualified to provide specialized care for newborns requiring Neo-Natal Incentive care. Reports indicate that the doctors held only BAMS degrees, which do not qualify them for such critical care.
The hospital’s lack of basic safety measures compounded the tragedy. According to Delhi Police, there were no fire extinguishers or emergency exits available within the facility. This glaring disregard for patient safety contributed to the devastating consequences of the fire.
Compounding the families’ anguish, many parents learned about the incident and the loss of their children through news reports or from concerned individuals. Neither the hospital nor the police took the responsibility to inform them promptly.
In the wake of this tragedy, the Delhi government has ordered a Magisterial Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire and the hospital’s operations. The inquiry will be conducted by the Shahadra District Magistrate and District Disaster Management Authority.
As the investigation unfolds, the full extent of the negligence and accountability for this heartbreaking incident will be brought to light.
