Providential Escape For Newborns At GMCH When Fire Broke Out At Neonatal ICU

GUWAHATI: About 47 newborns at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) had a providential escape on Friday evening when the hospital management could timely douse the fire that broke out at Neonatal ICU (NICU) of the hospital.

Even though the exact cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained, sources in the GMCH said smoke was first noticed from a bed at NICU on Friday evening. Smoke eventually turned into fire creating a hue and cry among patients and relatives and intense chaos at the hospital. Since the NICU and Special Newborn Care Unit are situated on the same premises there were huge rush of parents of newborns at the time of fire.

GMCH Superintendent Dr Ramen Talukdar told The Sentinel that a machine that provides oxygen to newborn initially caught fire and staff of NICU saw it immediately and swung into action. He said the staff, including doctors and nurses present at NICU, started shifting the newborns. He said fire extinguishers were used to douse the fire and everything was brought under control within a very short time.

“The situation is completely under control now. After inspection and checking conducted soon after the incident we have found that all other machines, electrical apparatus and equipment at NICU are working properly,” Dr Talukdar said.

Principal Secretary of Health & Family Welfare Samir Kumar Sinha said the cause of the fire was purely technical and there is no need to panic. “All 47 children at NICU are safe,” he said.

Also Read: Top Headlines