Delhi Hospital Fire: Expired Licence, No NOC From Fire Dept, Unqualified Doctors — Shocking Irregularities Surface

Delhi Hospital, where a fire killed seven newborns and injured five, operated without a valid license, employed unqualified doctors, and lacked safety measures.

The exterior of a children's hospital where a fire broke out on Saturday night at Vivek Vihar area, in New Delhi, Sunday, May 26, 2024. Seven newborns, who were rescued after the fire, have died, officials said on Sunday. ( Image Source :PTI )

Delhi Hospital Fire: A private neonatal hospital in east Delhi, where a devastating blaze claimed the lives of seven newborns and injured five others, had been operating without a valid license and lacked essential safety measures, according to authorities. The harrowing incident shed light on a series of alarming oversights, exposing the dire consequences of negligence in healthcare facilities.

The Baby Care New Born Child Hospital, situated in east Delhi, had been operating despite the expiration of its license, which lapsed on March 31, as revealed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhary. The expired license also permitted only five beds whereas 12 babies were being treated at the centre at the time of the incident, news agency PTI reported.

According to the police, the hospital employed doctors without adequate qualifications, with the police noting that they possessed only Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degrees.

"During the investigation, we got to know that the doctors are not qualified/ competent to treat the newborn children in need of neonatal intensive care, as they are BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) degree holders only," said the DCP, as per PTI. 

Furthermore, the hospital lacked crucial safety features such as fire extinguishers and emergency exits, exacerbating the consequences of the blaze. Officials from the Fire Department confirmed that the hospital had not obtained fire clearance, as per PTI's report.

Delhi Hospital Owner Arrested Amid Allegations Of Unauthorised Activities

Dr Naveen Kichi, the owner of the hospital, has been apprehended by the police following his attempt to evade authorities. The incident has also prompted the Delhi government to initiate a magisterial inquiry.

Amidst the grief and anguish of the affected families, Ritik, a bereaved parent, lamented the lack of transparency from officials, stating, "Every single official who is visiting here is tightlipped. They have no answer if the hospital was legal, if the hospital had any NOC from the fire department", as quoted by the report.

Allegations have also surfaced regarding unauthorised activities within the hospital premises, including the alleged illegal refilling of oxygen cylinders. Mukesh Bansal, a resident in the vicinity, claimed to have raised concerns about these activities to local authorities to no avail. "We had complained about it to the local councillor as well. But nothing was done. It was all happening under the nose of the police," Bansal asserted, as quoted by PTI.

The police said they were probing the claim, the report stated.

The tragic toll of the blaze was exacerbated by the lack of adequate medical infrastructure, as revealed by the District Magistrate's report, which informed that 11 infants were transferred to a nearby hospital, where six succumbed to their injuries, PTI reported. The overall toll includes four boys and three girls, the youngest being just 15 days old.

The fire, which broke out late on Saturday night, swiftly engulfed the hospital and spread to adjacent buildings, prompting a massive response from fire services. Divisional Fire Officer Rajendra Atwal disclosed that sixteen fire tenders were deployed to extinguish the flames, which were fueled by exploding oxygen cylinders.

The hospital operated multiple branches across Delhi and neighbouring Haryana.