Amravati hospital fire: 3 newborns dead, CM Fadnavis orders probe
Synopsis
Three newborns are dead and six injured after a fire tore through the NICU of Amravati's District Women's Hospital — and the opposition is pointing to a damning precedent: a 2021 Bhandara hospital fire that killed 10 infants, whose government-commissioned inquiry report was never acted upon.
Key Takeaways
Three newborn babies died in a NICU fire at the District Women's Hospital, Amravati , on 24 August .
Six infants are undergoing treatment at a local Super Speciality Hospital; 36 children were rescued unharmed.
CM Devendra Fadnavis ordered a high-level inquiry and announced ₹5 lakh financial assistance to each bereaved family.
Initial reports suggest the fire was caused by a ventilator explosion in the early morning hours.
Opposition leaders including Supriya Sule and Vijay Wadettiwar called the incident a result of systemic negligence and demanded statewide hospital fire audits.
Former minister Anil Deshmukh noted that a government committee formed after the Bhandara hospital fire (January 2021) , which killed 10 newborns , had not had its report implemented.
Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women's Hospital in Amravati in the early hours of Monday, 24 August, prompting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a high-level inquiry into the tragedy. Six other infants are currently receiving treatment at a local Super Speciality Hospital, while 36 children were successfully rescued unharmed.
What the Chief Minister Said
In a post on X, CM Fadnavis described the deaths as 'extremely tragic and heart-wrenching' and assured that 'the strictest possible action will be taken against those responsible.' He directed both the Health Minister and the Health Secretary to travel to Amravati on the same day. The state government has announced a financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to each bereaved family, and the Amravati District Collector has been instructed to ensure that treatment costs for injured infants are borne by the government.
How the Fire Started
Initial reports indicate the blaze was triggered by an explosion in a ventilator during the early morning hours, according to Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar. The fire spread through the NICU, one of the most critical and vulnerable wards in any hospital, raising immediate questions about fire safety protocols, equipment maintenance, and the upkeep of oxygen and electrical systems at the facility.
Opposition Demands Accountability
NCP(SP) Working President and Member of Parliament Supriya Sule called the incident 'not merely an accident but a glaring example of negligence in the system.' She demanded a thorough investigation and called for fire audits of all government and private hospitals across Maharashtra, as well as safety audits of medical equipment. Wadettiwar echoed this, stating that accountability must be fixed without delay and that no 'drama of inquiry' should substitute for concrete action against the guilty.
Maharashtra NCP(SP) chief Shashikant Shinde demanded action against the officers concerned. Former minister Anil Deshmukh drew a pointed comparison to the Bhandara hospital fire of January 2021, in which 10 newborns died. He noted that the government had constituted a high-level committee after that incident, but its report has reportedly not been acted upon. 'Had the government implemented the report, today's heartbreaking incident may have been averted,' Deshmukh said.
District Administration Response
Amravati District Guardian Minister and Revenue Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule offered condolences to the grieving families and confirmed that a comprehensive inquiry has been ordered. District administration officials have been directed to monitor the situation closely, ensure uninterrupted medical care for the surviving injured infants, and extend all necessary assistance to the victims' families. Emergency measures remain active at the site.
What Happens Next
The high-level inquiry ordered by CM Fadnavis is expected to examine fire safety arrangements, equipment maintenance records, and the chain of responsibility at the District Women's Hospital. Opposition parties have demanded that the probe extend to a statewide audit of fire and equipment safety in all government hospitals. The fate of the six injured infants currently under treatment will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
And the opposition's strongest argument is the government's own unimplemented committee report from the 2021 Bhandara fire. Ordering a fresh inquiry while the last one gathers dust is a pattern, not a response. The real accountability test is whether this time the audit findings translate into enforceable standards across all government hospitals, or whether the cycle of grief, inquiry, and inaction repeats once more.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Amravati District Women's Hospital?
A fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women's Hospital in Amravati in the early hours of 24 August, killing three newborn babies. Six other infants are undergoing treatment, while 36 children were rescued safely.
What action has the Maharashtra government taken?
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a high-level inquiry and directed the Health Minister and Health Secretary to visit Amravati immediately. The state announced ₹5 lakh financial assistance to each bereaved family and instructed the District Collector to cover treatment costs for injured infants at government expense.
What caused the fire at the Amravati hospital?
According to initial reports cited by Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, the fire was triggered by an explosion in a ventilator in the early morning hours. An official inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause and fix responsibility.
What is the Bhandara hospital fire connection?
In January 2021, a fire at a government hospital in Bhandara, Maharashtra, killed 10 newborn babies. The government formed a high-level committee to investigate, but former minister Anil Deshmukh has stated that the committee's report was never implemented — raising questions about whether the Amravati tragedy could have been prevented.
What are opposition parties demanding?
NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar have demanded a thorough investigation, strict action against those responsible, and immediate fire and equipment safety audits of all government and private hospitals across Maharashtra.
