Bhandara hospital fire: Babies left in blaze for 21 minutes before help arrived, reveals lab report

The state of the ward where the babies were kept a day after the fire

Although serious negligence has been established in the fire that killed 10 babies at the Bhandara District General Hospital, the local police are yet to file an FIR. In addition, a Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories (DFSL) Kalina report, has concluded from the CCTV footage retrieved from DVRs, that the babies were left in the blaze for nearly 21 minutes before any hospital staff came to rescue them. The footage has been handed over to the police. The report has also confirmed that no staff was present in the room.

Cops outside the maternity unit of the Bhandara District General Hospital. File pic/AFP

The fire took place at 1.40 am on January 9. According to sources in Bhandara police, they have received the DFSL report pointing to serious negligence by the hospital but the cops have sent some more DVRs and asked for further clarification.

"We have received one report and further queries with some DVRs have been sent to the DFSL to get a conclusive report to decide the further course of action," said Vasant Jadhav, superintendent of police, Bhandara.

The Bhandara police had earlier sent three Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) of the hospital to the DFSL to retrieve the CCTV camera footage. The CCTV cameras were installed in and around the Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) on the second floor of the hospital.

Media and police personnel outside the Bhandara District General Hospital. AFP File

Forensic scientists managed to retrieve the data from one DVR and concluded that the fire, which broke out due to a short circuit, was blazing for 21 minutes inside the room and no one was seen at the spot, even as smoke engulfed the room.

"According to the report submitted by DFSL, the CCTV footage clearly shows that the nurses were missing from their nursing stations. The hospital staff got to know about the fire 21 minutes after it occurred but it was too late as the SNCU had become a smoke chamber. The toddlers must have died after inhaling the toxic fumes. Absence of nurses at their work stations amounts to negligence on part of the hospital," a Maharashtra police officer said on the promise of anonymity.

"The DFSL is likely to submit further reports this week but the forensic report of the main DVR which captured the fire at SNCU has been submitted recently," the officer added.

Charred remains of furniture and other equipment at the Bhandara District General Hospital. File pic

"We already have the report of the committee formed by the government which also talks about serious negligence. There is also the police report and the forensics reports. So, once everything is put together, there will be a conclusive report to register an FIR and initiate further investigation," a senior IPS officer from the state police said.

A source in the Maharashtra police said that they are waiting for an official complaint from the state health department, only after which they can register an FIR. mid-day's calls and messages to state Health Minister Rajesh Tope went unanswered.

The SNCU is a 36-bed ward. At the time of the incident, there were 17 toddlers and seven were rescued by the fire brigade. After the incident, the state government suspended and transferred four officials, including a civil surgeon.

3
No. of babies who died of severe burns

7
No. of babies who died of smoke inhalation

1.40 am
Time the fire started