On Saturday, May 25th 2024, at around 11 pm, in the Vivek Vihar district of East Delhi, a fire broke out at the New Born Baby Care Hospital, when the fire reached oxygen tanks, they exploded, spreading the fire.

According to senior police officer Surendra Choudhary, bystanders rescued twelve newborns however, by the time medical support arrived six had died from smoke inhalation and another baby was either dead before the fire started or died the following morning. The deceased infants, aged less than a day old to 17 days old, were transferred to GTB hospital for post-mortem exams and the other five were transported to East Delhi Advance NICU hospital for treatment from smoke inhalation.

It took 14-16 fire trucks an hour to put out the fire and the owner of the hospital, Dr Naveen Kichi, director of the hospital fled but was arrested along with the doctor on duty, Dr Akash. They have been charged with culpable homicide. The hospital did not have a valid license, fire exits, or fire extinguishers.

Dr Akash was not capable of treating newborns in intensive care and the building was beyond capacity. The BBC reported,

“Media reports say that the police is also investigating the possibility of the hospital running an illegal oxygen cylinder filling racket after locals reported suspicious activities.”

27 May 2024. “Delhi hospital where babies died lacked license, fire exits.” BBC.

Deadly fires are common in India due to corruption (ignoring fire codes, bribing licensing officials, etc). Earlier that day in Gujarat, thirty-three people (including nine children) died in a fire at a “gaming zone”. In 2021, ten newborns died in a hospital fire in Maharashtra.

Sources

Chaturvedi, Arpan. 26 May 2024. “Fire kills six newborns at baby hospital in India’s capital.” Reuters.

Jordan, Dearbail, Divya Arya, and Roxy Gagdekar Chhara. 26 May 2024. “Newborn babies die after fire at Delhi hospital.” BBC.

Newsfeed. 27 May 2024. “Parents collect their babies who died in New Delhi fire.” Al Jazeera.

Sinha, Jignasa and Hemani Bhandari. 27 May 2024. “6 newborn babies dead in fire at Delhi hospital.” Hindustan Times.

Staff. 25 May 2024. “Fire at children’s hospital kills seven newborns in India’s capital.” Al Jazeera.

Staff. 27 May 2024. “Delhi hospital where babies died lacked license, fire exits.” BBC.

Suri, Manveena  and Kathleen Magramo. 26 May 2024. “Fire at India children’s hospital kills six newborns.” CNN.

TOI City Desk. 26 May 2024. “7 babies killed in massive fire at Delhi children’s hospital.” Times of India.