: Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 11:37 PM IST
FPJ follow-up: Newborns choked for 21 minutes in Bhandara hospital, as angels of mercy were absent
The charred remains of the newborn care unit of Bhandara district hospital in which 10 babies died.
PTI Photo
Mumbai: The devil is in the details or, in this case, swooped down when the angels of mercy stepped out of the sick newborn care ward in the Bhandara district general hospital on January 9. The Forensic Science Laboratory report has revealed that the 10 newborns who perished in fire at the hospital that day suffocated for 21 long minutes because of the criminal negligence of the two nurses who were supposed to be on duty, but were not. Had the nurses been there, they could have safely evacuated the infants before fire engulfed the ward, the report revealed.
The fire started due to a short circuit in the control panel of a radiant baby warmer inside the SNCU which spread across the unit due to the inflammable material inside the unit.
MUMBAI: Nearly two weeks after the Bhandara fire incident, in which 10 newborns died at the district hospital, the public health department has ordered action against seven staffers of the hospitals including suspension of the district civil surgeon.
Public health minister Rajesh Tope said that department received the report of the inquiry committee led by divisional commissioner Sajeev Kumar late on Wednesday evening.
After going through the report it has been decided to suspend the civil surgeon Dr Pramod Khandate, medical officer on duty Dr Archana Mesharm and the sister in-charge Jyoti Bharaskar.
Maharashtra government suspends civil surgeon, fires three others over Bhandara hospital tragedy ANI | Updated: Jan 22, 2021 07:04 IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 22 (ANI): Maharashtra government on Thursday suspended civil surgeon, nurse and a medical officer from Bhandara District Hospital in which 10 newborns were killed in a blaze earlier this month.
The government also transferred an additional civil surgeon and terminated a paediatrician and contracts of two nurses.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said the committee investigating the incident submitted its report on Wednesday
He said as per the recommendation of the panel, the district surgeon has been suspended for breach of duty in this case.
ANI Photo
The panel probing the death of ten newborns in a fire at the Bhandara district hospital in Maharashtra has submitted its report on Wednesday. As per the its recommendation, the district surgeon has been suspended for negligence of duty in this case. Also, a decision has been taken to transfer the additional district surgeon. Sick Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) department head and nurses have been suspended and two nurses and a pediatrician have been terminated from their services, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday.
Moreover, the Health Minister said that according to the report of the inquiry committee, there is a strong evidence of fire in the electric circuit in SNCU.