10 September,2026 11:11 AM IST | Amravati | mid-day online correspondent
The inquiry report identified deficiencies in the maintenance and repair of ventilators and other medical equipment. Pic/PTI
The Maharashtra Public Health Department has ordered action against officials, employees and private firms found responsible for lapses linked to the August 24 fire at a government hospital in Amravati that claimed the lives of three newborns, according to the findings of an inquiry into the incident.
The inquiry report identified deficiencies in the maintenance and repair of ventilators and other medical equipment. It also found that the fire alarm and sprinkler systems were not functional at the time of the incident, while the fire pump house was locked.
The committee that investigated the incident identified deficiencies in technical inspections, equipment maintenance and fire safety preparedness at the hospital.
Based on the findings, the government has directed disciplinary proceedings against officials and employees whose negligence, inadequate supervision or dereliction of duty was established during the inquiry.
The proceedings will be initiated under Rule 8 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, according to the Public Health Department.
The government has also ordered administrative action against contractual personnel found responsible and sought action against officials of the Public Works Department who were responsible for relevant maintenance and safety-related work.
The fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Amravati District Women's Hospital in the early hours of August 24.
According to officials, the blaze started at around 3.15 am in the NICU on the third floor. A ventilator was reportedly suspected to have sparked the fire.
The NICU had multiple sections catering to newborns requiring different levels of medical care. Officials said the fire originated in the section housing outborn babies.
The incident resulted in the deaths of three newborns. Six infants were subsequently shifted to a super-speciality hospital, officials said.
Following the fire, authorities shifted 36 newborns to a safe location as a precautionary measure amid concerns that smoke from the blaze could affect their respiratory systems.
District Civil Surgeon Dr Vinod Pawar had said that there was no information about any of the children being injured in the fire at the time.
"There is no information about the children being injured in the fire. However, considering the possibility that the smoke that spread during the fire could affect their lungs, we did not want to take any risk," Pawar said.
He said one child was returned to the mother after observation, while the remaining newborns continued to be admitted and monitored.
"A total of 36 children have been shifted to a safe location. One child was sent back to the mother after observation, while the remaining children have been kept admitted and are being monitored. The hospital team is continuously following up on their health," he said.
Pawar had also said that the hospital's fire audit was due to expire on August 21, shortly before the incident.
"The fire audit was due to expire on August 21. Before that, the hospital administration had sent a letter to the Electrical Department of the Public Works Department," he said.
The inquiry's findings regarding the condition of fire safety equipment and maintenance systems have now prompted the government to order action against those found responsible.
Pawar had earlier said that the timing and duration of the high-level inquiry would be determined by the committee.
"This is a high-level inquiry committee. When the committee will begin the investigation and how much time it will take to submit the report will be decided by the committee. I cannot give any definite timeline in this regard. At present, the hospital team is regularly taking care of and following up on the newborns who have been shifted to other hospitals," he said.
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar had earlier described the incident as unfortunate and announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the fire.
"This is an unfortunate incident. Following the event, officials from the Public Works Department and others conducted a site visit. We have now constituted a committee chaired by the Health Commissioner; we expect to receive the committee's report within eight days and will take action based on its findings," Abitkar said.
He said the committee included technical experts to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire.
"The committee will include the Health Commissioner and an official from AIIMS," he added.
(With inputs from ANI)
