District Administration Cancels NICU Registration, Orders Safety Audit
A private nursing home in Bithoor, Kanpur district, has come under intense scrutiny after a newborn girl died following a fire inside a warmer machine in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on Sunday evening. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the district administration cancelled the facility’s NICU registration, citing lack of proper permission and other irregularities.
According to hospital records and the family, the baby was delivered via caesarean section around 4 pm and shifted to the NICU for routine observation, while the mother was moved to the ward. A few hours later, the warmer machine allegedly caught fire, causing severe burn injuries to the infant’s face, chest, and abdomen. The newborn was rushed to another private children’s hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Preliminary findings suggest that a short circuit in the machine may have caused the blaze.
The family has alleged gross negligence on the part of the hospital staff. In a written complaint filed by the baby’s aunt, it was claimed that the family was not informed about the birth for nearly half an hour and came to know of the delivery only through a sanitation worker. Soon after, they were told that a fire had broken out in the NICU and smoke had filled the ward.
The complainant further alleged that after repeated questioning, hospital staff disclosed that the baby had sustained critical burn injuries. The incident reportedly triggered panic within the hospital premises, with family members accusing the administration of failing to maintain proper safety standards.
District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh stated that while the nursing home was registered, it did not have official permission to operate a NICU. During inspection, fire extinguishers at the facility were also found to be expired. Authorities have issued a notice to the management, directing them to respond within three working days and warning that strict action will follow if the NICU is operated again without authorization.
Based on the family’s complaint, a case has been registered against the nursing home doctors under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Bithoor police station. The investigation is currently underway to determine accountability and any lapses in safety compliance.
Emphasizing that patient safety is non-negotiable, the District Magistrate announced that mandatory safety audits of life-saving equipment will now be conducted in all district hospitals. He also warned of stringent action against unlicensed or non-compliant healthcare facilities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The incident sparked outrage among the family and local residents, who staged a protest inside the hospital and allegedly damaged parts of the NICU. The family also claimed that the hospital management offered Rs 2 lakh as a settlement, although this allegation has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
