Overview
- A fire at the Amravati District Women’s Hospital Special Newborn Care Unit, which broke out on August 24, killed three newborns and forced the urgent transfer of 36 other infants to nearby hospitals.
- A seven‑member inquiry led by Health Commissioner Sanjay Katkar found major safety lapses including poor ventilator maintenance, non‑functional fire alarms and sprinklers, and a locked fire pump house.
- The Maharashtra government has suspended five senior hospital and health officials and has begun disciplinary proceedings under Rule 8 of the state service rules for negligence and supervisory failures.
- The inquiry flagged deficiencies linked to M/s AOV International LLP and Shilar Company, and the state has sought an urgent forensic report while initiating blacklisting and other proceedings against the contractors.
- Officials have ordered immediate measures — CCTV in SNCUs/NICUs, mandatory fire‑safety mock drills, strict SOP enforcement for electrical and equipment maintenance, and comprehensive electrical and fire audits to be completed within three months — a move likely to tighten oversight of neonatal wards statewide.