Officials seal illegal NICU at Kanpur nursing home after newborn dies in fire
After a team from the Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) office visited the ICU, it was found to be operating illegally without a valid licence, prompting officials to seal it immediately.
A newborn girl died after a fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a private nursing home in Kanpur district. Alleging negligence and a cover-up bid, the baby’s family lodged a complaint, police said on Monday. After a team from the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office visited the ICU, it was found to be operating illegally without a valid licence, prompting officials to seal it immediately.
The fire erupted on Sunday evening at Raja Nursing Home in Bithoor, reportedly due to a short circuit in a warmer machine in the NICU. The infant suffered severe burns and later died, sparking chaos at the hospital and protests by family members.
According to a written complaint filed by the baby’s aunt, Ritu Nishad, hospital staff failed to inform the family for nearly half an hour after the delivery. She alleged that the family learned about the birth only through a cleaning staff member.
Shortly after, the family was told that a fire had broken out in the NICU and that smoke had spread through the ward. After repeated inquiries, hospital staff informed them that the baby, born to her sister Shalu, had sustained serious burn injuries.
The infant suffered severe burns on her face, chest and abdomen, the complaint said. Hospital staff declared her condition critical and rushed her to a private children’s nursing home in Kakadeo.
Ritu alleged that the newborn was already badly burnt and had died before the transfer.
Bithoor Deputy Commissioner of Police Qasim Abdi said a written complaint has been received and that further action will follow after due formalities, including inquest proceedings. He said a reply has also been sought from the chief medical officer, with a three-day deadline.
In Kanpur, the family members of a newborn girl who died after being burned inside an ICU allegedly due to hospital negligence vandalised the hospital premises, triggering an official probe. A team from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has begun an investigation and sealed the ICU, which was found to be operating without permission.
ICU RUNNING WITHOUT VALID LICENCE: OFFICIALS
According to officials, the ICU at the hospital was running without a valid licence. When the CMO’s team reached the facility for inspection, the ICU was found functioning illegally, following which it was sealed. Visuals from the hospital show family members creating a ruckus and breaking doors, while Assistant Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) Ramit Rastogi was seen sealing the ICU.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Raja Nursing Home in Bithoor, where Arun had admitted his wife Shalu for delivery. A baby girl was born, but nurses claimed the newborn was feeling cold and placed her in a warmer. The staff allegedly forgot to monitor the child. When smoke began coming out of the machine, family members raised an alarm. By the time the baby was removed, she had suffered fatal burns and was declared dead.
The newborn was the couple’s first child, which led to heightened anger among the family. The father, Arun, submitted a written complaint against the hospital administration. Police registered a case but stated that as per Supreme Court guidelines, a doctors’ panel would first conduct an inquiry and a post-mortem would be carried out before further action.
Angered by the delay, family members vandalised the hospital on Monday. The CMO’s team, led by ACMO Ramit Rastogi, visited the hospital and initiated a probe. Rastogi said the ICU was operating without authorisation or a licence and has been sealed. He added that the entire matter is under investigation, shortcomings at the hospital are being examined, and statements of the family members will also be recorded before a report is submitted.
A newborn girl died after a fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a private nursing home in Kanpur district. Alleging negligence and a cover-up bid, the baby’s family lodged a complaint, police said on Monday. After a team from the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) office visited the ICU, it was found to be operating illegally without a valid licence, prompting officials to seal it immediately.
The fire erupted on Sunday evening at Raja Nursing Home in Bithoor, reportedly due to a short circuit in a warmer machine in the NICU. The infant suffered severe burns and later died, sparking chaos at the hospital and protests by family members.
According to a written complaint filed by the baby’s aunt, Ritu Nishad, hospital staff failed to inform the family for nearly half an hour after the delivery. She alleged that the family learned about the birth only through a cleaning staff member.
Shortly after, the family was told that a fire had broken out in the NICU and that smoke had spread through the ward. After repeated inquiries, hospital staff informed them that the baby, born to her sister Shalu, had sustained serious burn injuries.
The infant suffered severe burns on her face, chest and abdomen, the complaint said. Hospital staff declared her condition critical and rushed her to a private children’s nursing home in Kakadeo.
Ritu alleged that the newborn was already badly burnt and had died before the transfer.
Bithoor Deputy Commissioner of Police Qasim Abdi said a written complaint has been received and that further action will follow after due formalities, including inquest proceedings. He said a reply has also been sought from the chief medical officer, with a three-day deadline.
In Kanpur, the family members of a newborn girl who died after being burned inside an ICU allegedly due to hospital negligence vandalised the hospital premises, triggering an official probe. A team from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) has begun an investigation and sealed the ICU, which was found to be operating without permission.
ICU RUNNING WITHOUT VALID LICENCE: OFFICIALS
According to officials, the ICU at the hospital was running without a valid licence. When the CMO’s team reached the facility for inspection, the ICU was found functioning illegally, following which it was sealed. Visuals from the hospital show family members creating a ruckus and breaking doors, while Assistant Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) Ramit Rastogi was seen sealing the ICU.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Raja Nursing Home in Bithoor, where Arun had admitted his wife Shalu for delivery. A baby girl was born, but nurses claimed the newborn was feeling cold and placed her in a warmer. The staff allegedly forgot to monitor the child. When smoke began coming out of the machine, family members raised an alarm. By the time the baby was removed, she had suffered fatal burns and was declared dead.
The newborn was the couple’s first child, which led to heightened anger among the family. The father, Arun, submitted a written complaint against the hospital administration. Police registered a case but stated that as per Supreme Court guidelines, a doctors’ panel would first conduct an inquiry and a post-mortem would be carried out before further action.
Angered by the delay, family members vandalised the hospital on Monday. The CMO’s team, led by ACMO Ramit Rastogi, visited the hospital and initiated a probe. Rastogi said the ICU was operating without authorisation or a licence and has been sealed. He added that the entire matter is under investigation, shortcomings at the hospital are being examined, and statements of the family members will also be recorded before a report is submitted.