New Delhi, May 27, 2024 — A tragic fire at a local hospital has brought to light severe safety and regulatory lapses, resulting in the deaths of six newborn babies. The hospital, which has been the subject of numerous complaints by residents and officials, faces scrutiny for its operations and licensing status.
The hospital, originally located in B-block, relocated to C-block following repeated complaints from residents. Despite the move, operations continued without rectifying the issues. Oxygen cylinders were refilled daily on-site, a practice that raised safety concerns but went unaddressed by authorities.
Anand Goyal, President of the Resident Welfare Association (RWA), and Parshad Pankaj Luthra have long voiced their concerns. Goyal told Dainik Bhaskar that a meeting was held at the Vivek Vihar police station where the SHO promised action against Dr. Naveen, the hospital's administrator. However, no steps have been taken since the meeting.
The hospital’s license, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Delhi Government, expired on March 31, 2024. Atul Garg, Chief of Delhi Fire Service, confirmed that his department never received any inspection inquiries for the hospital, indicating the facility lacked a fire safety certificate.
The hospital was only authorized to operate with five beds. Shockingly, at the time of the fire, 12 newborns were inside the facility, resulting in six fatalities. Further investigation revealed that the doctors were holding BAMS degrees, which do not qualify them to treat newborns.
Eyewitness Abid recounted the harrowing moment when he saw the top floor of the hospital catch fire. He asked a hospital staff member to call an ambulance, but the staff member fled the scene. The fire also spread to an adjacent house, further highlighting the hospital’s unsafe construction with acrylic walls instead of bricks.
The incident underscores a grave lapse in safety protocols and regulatory oversight, prompting calls for immediate action and stringent measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
