New Delhi: In a tragic incident, seven newborn babies were killed after a massive fire broke out at New Born Baby Care Hospital in Vivek Vihar area in East Delhi late on Saturday night. A total of 12 babies were evacuated from hospital building following the fire, out of which seven lost their lives. One of the rescued infants, who was put on ventilator, died on Sunday morning. The remaining babies were admitted to a hospital in East Delhi. 

The bodies of the seven deceased newborns were shifted to GTB Hospital for postmortem.

Hospital Owner Booked

The Delhi Police has registered a first information report (FIR) against Dr Naveen Khichi, the owner of Baby Care New Born Hospital. He has been booked under sections 336, 304A and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It is being investigated whether the fire NOC was obtained by the hospital or not. Another medical professional, Dr Akash has also been arrested by the police.

An official from the Delhi Fire Service had earlier said, “A total of 12 children were rescued, out of which 6 have died, 1 is on the ventilator and 5 others are admitted to the hospital.”

As per a fire officer, the blaze was extinguished completely.

According to sources, the Delhi Fire Services received a call about the fire at 11.32 pm on Saturday. Soon, nine fire tenders were rushed to the site to carry out the dousing operations.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Shahdara DCP said an action is being taken against Naveen Kichi, owner of the hospital. Sources revealed that the intensity of the fire was such that it further spread to the nearby buildings as well and an ambulance parked outside the health care centre. 

The local residents confirmed that a couple of oxygen cylinders too exploded during the fire incident, causing major damage to the establishment.
As fire erupted, people present inside the building rushed out to save themselves. 

Accused Will Not Be Spared: Kejriwal

Responding to the hospital tragedy, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident is heart-rendering and warned that those responsible for negligence will not be spared.

In a post on X, CM Kejriwal wrote, “This incident of fire in a children's hospital is heartbreaking. We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident. Government and administration officials are busy providing treatment to the injured on the spot. The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.” 

Health Min Saurabh Bharadwaj Issues Notification

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has issued a notification directing the Health Secretary Deepak Kumar and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to ensure enquiry and free treatment to the injured in Vivek Vihar fire incident.  

It was being claimed that there was a possibility that a few people were left trapped inside the building as fire erupted. Confirming the incident, a senior official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) stated that the fire broke out at a baby care centre located near ITI in B-Block of Vivek Vihar. The area has been cordoned off by the police. An investigation into the fire is underway.

PM Modi Condoles Babies' Deaths

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident "heart-rending" In a post on X, the PM wrote, "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 (sic)."

The tragic fire incident comes on a day when a massive fire ripped through a crowded game zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot that left as many as 27 people dead. 

More details are awaited.