Delhi hospital fire: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson (NCPCR) has deployed a team today (May 26) to probe into the fire incident at a private children's hospital in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar that left seven newborns dead.
The blaze broke out at the Baby Care New Born Hospital around 11:30 pm on Saturday (May 25) and soon spread to two adjacent buildings. Twelve newborns were rescued from the facility but seven of them died. Five babies are still undergoing treatment at another hospital.
In a post on X, 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.
I assure relief, ensure that guilty are brought to book- Delhi LG
Delhi LG VK Saxena posted on X and said, "Have asked Chief Secretary to institute an inquiry into the tragic incidents of fire in children's hospital in Delhi. Also instructed CP to ensure all that is needful. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. I assure all relief and will ensure that guilty are brought to book."
'Most likely, hospital building had no NOC', says Delhi fire department director
After seven newborns were killed in a fire incident at a baby care centre in Delhi's Vivek Vihar, Atul Garg, Director of the Delhi Fire Department said that it is most likely that the authorities did not posses a No-Objection Certificate (NOC). The owner of the care centre is Naveen Kichi who is still absconding.
FIR registered
As per the Delhi police, an FIR under sections 336 and 304A is being registered against him. Atul Gard told media, "I cannot explain this completely yet, most likely the authorities did not posses a No-Objection Certificate (NOC)."
"At 11:32 pm, we got a call that there was a fire in the baby care centre. We initially sent seven fire tenders and afterwards, sent five more. We tried very hard and rescued 12 children. Later we came to know that there were small children in which around six children died. It is a very sad incident," he added.
Further, the director of the Delhi Fire Department said that because there were some oxygen cylinders, the blast took place."When we got the call, the caller requested to send more vehicles as the fire spread to the nearby buildings also," Garg said.
According to Atul Garg, the fire broke out in the baby centre first, so people from nearby areas had already left and there was no need to rescue the adjacent buildings. "It was a very tough operation. We made two teams. One team started firefighting because there was a blast of cylinders, we can say the chain of blast of cylinders. So we had to save ourselves also. We started rescue operations for babies as well. Unfortunately, we could not save all the children. We removed all the twelve babies to the hospital. But after arrival, they declared that 6 were dead. That is a regrettable incident," he added.
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Kejriwal assured strict action in the case.
"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," Kejriwal said.
ALSO READ: Delhi: Seven newborns dead in fire at baby care centre in Vivek Vihar, PM Modi expresses grief
