Probe ordered after fatal fire at Amravati District Women’s Hospital
Amravati: The Maharashtra government has constituted a seven-member expert committee to investigate a fire that broke out in the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the District Women’s Hospital (Dufferin Hospital) in Amravati, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said on Monday. The panel, headed by the Public Health Services Commissioner Sanjay Katkar, has been directed to submit its report within eight days, the minister told a news conference after visiting the hospital.
The blaze in the neonatal unit in the early hours of Monday resulted in the suffocation deaths of three newborns, officials said. As a precaution against smoke inhalation, hospital staff and district health authorities shifted 36 other neonates from the SNCU to nearby hospitals and safe locations. District Civil Surgeon Dr Vinod Pawar told ANI that one infant returned to the mother after observation, while the remaining children were being monitored in receiving hospitals.
“The committee will examine all aspects of the tragedy and pinpoint the exact fault,” Abitkar said, adding that the report will be made public and responsibility fixed based on its findings.
Immediate actions announced and compensations
Meeting families of the bereaved at the hospital, the minister announced ex-gratia payments of ₹5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased infants. He also said the state government will bear the complete treatment costs for the 36 newborns who were shifted.
Abitkar said the committee will review possible irregularities that “prima facie appear to be of a serious nature” and recommend measures to prevent recurrence. He indicated that if it is established the ventilator supplied by a Nagpur-based company exploded and triggered the fire, the supplier would be blacklisted.
Fire safety audit and broader review
Officials said the Public Works Department (PWD) and other relevant officials have already carried out site inspections. Dr Vinod Pawar told ANI the hospital’s fire audit was due to expire on August 21, and the administration had been following up with the PWD. Abitkar said a meeting at Mantralaya has been convened to discuss fire safety measures across government hospitals and to conduct a detailed review of fire audits.
- Panel lead: Sanjay Katkar, Public Health Services Commissioner
- Timeframe: Report due in eight days
- Casualties: Three newborns died; 36 shifted as precaution
- Compensation: ₹5 lakh each to families of deceased; state to cover treatment costs
Local hospital response and transfers
Following the fire, Abitkar visited several hospitals receiving the transferred newborns, including Hope Hospital, Murke Hospital, Parijat Hospital and PDMC Hospital, to enquire about the infants’ conditions. District and hospital teams continue to monitor the health of the transferred babies, officials said.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Committee | 7 members, led by Sanjay Katkar |
| Deadline | 8 days |
| Deaths | 3 newborns (suffocation) |
| Infants shifted | 36 (precautionary) |
| Compensation | ₹5 lakh each to bereaved families |
The high-level inquiry is expected to probe technical causes, compliance with fire-safety norms, maintenance and the chain of responsibility at the hospital. Abitkar said the committee will also look into administrative lapses and recommend appropriate disciplinary or legal action based on its findings.
The incident has prompted an immediate administrative response at the state level and underscored concerns about fire audits and equipment safety in government medical facilities. Local residents in Amravati and healthcare workers have been left seeking rapid clarity on how such a tragedy occurred and what steps will be taken to prevent similar losses in future.
