“Heart-rending”: President Murmu expresses condolences on deaths of newborns at hospital in Delhi

New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed her condolences after seven newborns lost their lives in fire at New Born Baby Care Hospital in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar.

In a post on X, the President said, “The news of the death of many children due to a fire in a hospital in Vivek Vihar, Delhi is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and relatives to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of other children injured in this incident.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his condolences on the incident.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said, “This incident of fire in a children’s hospital is heartbreaking. We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident. Government and administration officials are busy providing treatment to the injured at the spot. The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.”

Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj also took cognisance of the incident and assured strict action.

“Very unfortunate incident reported. I have asked the Secretary(Health) to update me about the current situation. Culprits will not be spared. Strictest punishment will be ensured for those found negligent or involved in any wrongdoing,” Bharadwaj said.

According to the officials, 12 children were rescued from the incident site where one was already dead before the fire call was made.

“Six newborn babies lost their lives after the fire broke out and five others have been admitted to the hospital,” Delhi Police said.

The owner of the care centre is Naveen Kichi who is still absconding.

As per the Delhi police, an FIR under sections 336 and 304A is being registered against him.

Atul Garg, Director of the Delhi Fire Department, said, “It was a very tough operation. We made two teams. One team started firefighting because there was a blast of cylinders, we can say the chain of blast of cylinders. So we had to save ourselves also. We started rescue operations for babies as well. Unfortunately, we could not save all the children. We removed all the twelve babies to the hospital. But after arrival, they declared that 6 were dead. That is a regrettable incident.”

The rescued newborns were shifted to East Delhi Advance NICU hospital.

All of them are on oxygen support and their treatment is underway.