CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR, September 4: A fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) area of Asian Hospital in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar early Friday morning, prompting an emergency evacuation of dozens of patients.
All 58 patients, including nine newborn babies, were safely evacuated, and authorities reported no injuries or casualties in the incident.
Fire Breaks Out in Early Hours
The fire was reported at around 2:20 AM to 2:45 AM on the first floor of the hospital in the Akashwani Chowk/Jalna Road area.
Hospital staff noticed smoke coming from the NICU area and immediately alerted the fire brigade and police while beginning the evacuation process.
Nine Newborns Safely Evacuated
Nine infants requiring intensive or specialised medical care were inside the NICU when the incident occurred.
Hospital staff, firefighters and police personnel worked together to safely move all nine newborns out of the affected area.
The infants were subsequently shifted to other medical facilities for continued treatment and observation.
58 Patients Moved to Safety
Around 58 patients were undergoing treatment on the affected floor when the fire broke out.
Patients from adjoining wards and specialised rooms were also evacuated as a precaution while firefighters worked to control the blaze.
Officials said no patient, hospital staff member or emergency responder suffered injuries.
Fire Brigade Launches Rapid Response
Multiple fire tenders were rushed to the hospital after the alarm was raised.
Firefighters brought the situation under control quickly, preventing the blaze and smoke from causing a larger disaster inside the hospital.
Police also reached the site and secured the surrounding area as relatives of patients gathered outside following reports of the fire.
Short Circuit Suspected
Preliminary information suggests the fire may have originated from a short circuit in an air-conditioning unit inside the NICU.
However, authorities have not yet declared the exact cause of the fire, and further investigation is expected.
Incident Raises Hospital Fire-Safety Concerns
The incident comes around 10 days after another serious neonatal-unit fire at the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati, where three newborns died and dozens were rescued.
The latest fire has again brought attention to fire-safety measures and emergency-response systems in critical hospital units caring for newborns and other vulnerable patients.
The quick response by hospital staff and emergency services helped prevent casualties in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with all patients safely removed from the affected area.
source – The Indian Express
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