A fire erupted in a baby care center in the Vivek Vihar area of Shahdara, Delhi's capital, late Saturday. Twelve children were rescued, but tragically, six of the newborns perished in the fire, with an additional newborn having already passed away. In total, seven newborns lost their lives, while five others are currently hospitalized, with one in critical condition. Reports indicate that the fire broke out at approximately 11:32 pm on Saturday night at the Baby Care Center in IIT Block B, Vivek Vihar, Shahdara.
Upon receiving the alert, sixteen fire tenders swiftly arrived at the scene. Fire department officials confirmed the presence of children and staff at the care center. Emergency responders worked diligently to rescue the trapped individuals, successfully saving all by late night. Tragically, a newborn was discovered deceased on site, while the remaining twelve rescued newborns were rushed to the hospital. Regrettably, six infants succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
Atul Garg, Director of the Fire Department, reported that the three-story building, along with the ground floor, was engulfed in flames, resulting in the destruction of a van parked outside. Firefighters promptly initiated firefighting efforts to contain the blaze. In response to the chaotic scene at the baby care center, local residents, along with law enforcement and emergency services, banded together to rescue the newborns from the building.
Following the incident, all seven deceased bodies were transported to GTB Hospital for postmortem examination. Authorities are taking action against the hospital owner, Naveen Kichi, a resident of 258 Bharon Enclave, Paschim Vihar, Delhi. President Draupadi Murmu and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed their condolences for the tragic loss of life and pledged support for the affected families. Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently underway to hold those responsible for the negligence accountable.