The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Baby Care New Born Hospital in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, where a devastating fire claimed the lives of six newborns, operated without essential safety measures, making it a “death trap,” according to a report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
An NCPCR inspection, led by member Preeti Bharadwaj Dalal, uncovered that the hospital lacked emergency exits, functional fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and a water sprinkler system. These findings represent a blatant violation of the National Building Code of India, 2016, and guidelines set by the National Disaster Management Authority.
The fire broke out at around 11:30 pm on Saturday, spreading rapidly to two adjacent buildings. Local residents, not hospital staff, alerted the fire and rescue services, highlighting the hospital’s lack of emergency preparedness and training.
The NCPCR has demanded several documents from the hospital, including the No Objection Certificate from the Fire department, operating licence, registration certificate, staff qualifications, NICU bed capacity, a copy of the FIR, post-mortem reports, and the licence for refilling the oxygen unit.
The police investigation revealed that 27 oxygen cylinders were stored at the hospital, five of which exploded during the fire. Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj confirmed that the hospital had been illegally refilling oxygen from larger to smaller cylinders, a practice that significantly increases fire risk.
Residents also accused the hospital of refilling oxygen cylinders on-site. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhary mentioned that no evidence has yet been found to support these claims. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, and the investigation is ongoing.
Additionally, it was discovered that the hospital’s operating licence had expired on March 31. The facility continued to operate without qualified doctors and without clearance from the fire department. Many parents were unaware of the situation and the grave risks their newborns were exposed to.
