Revenue and Amravati Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday warned that anyone found responsible for the deaths of three newborns at an Amravati government hospital will face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The infants suffocated after heavy smoke engulfed the neonatal unit; rescuers evacuated 36 children from the ward, while six were rushed to a private facility for urgent care.

Scope of the Investigation

Minister Bawankule confirmed that a comprehensive probe is underway, covering technical lapses, malfunctioning fire-safety systems, equipment maintenance records, and operational failures. He stated the inquiry will examine the installation date of fire-safety systems, the vendor agency responsible, automatic valve operations, and the functioning of ceiling sprinklers.

Bawankule made clear that no individual — whether a government official or a private contractor — will be spared. He added that negligence in maintenance or flawed technical installations by contractors and officials directly warrants culpable homicide charges, without compromise. Authorities are also reviewing the 2022 Amravati hospital incident report amid allegations that the earlier inquiry was left incomplete.

Opposition Demands Accountability

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar launched a sharp attack on the ruling Mahayuti government, claiming it has driven Maharashtra's healthcare system to collapse. He demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the Health Minister and senior officials concerned, and called for a dedicated inquiry into the Health Department's negligence.

Wadettiwar drew a pointed comparison: 'When an innocent female student dies of a snakebite at a residential school (Ashramshala) in Gadchiroli, action is taken against the institution's management. Therefore, if three newborns were charred to death due to security lapses at a government hospital, the Health Minister must take responsibility for this incident. No safety audit had been conducted for the government hospital. Government hospitals across the state face a shortage of doctors, a scarcity of medicines and a lack of essential medical facilities in many places.'

A Pattern of Unfulfilled Reports

Wadettiwar further argued that if regular fire-safety and general security audits of hospitals are not being conducted, the responsibility lies solely with the department concerned. He questioned why past inquiry reports have not translated into action: 'Whether it is Bhandara or Amravati, investigation reports are issued after every incident, but when will those reports actually be implemented?'

Notably, the reference to Bhandara is significant — a 2021 fire at a government hospital in Bhandara claimed the lives of 10 newborns, and critics have long argued that systemic reforms promised in its aftermath were never fully carried out. The Amravati incident marks at least the second major neonatal tragedy in Maharashtra's government hospitals in recent years.

What Happens Next

The investigation is expected to determine criminal liability and identify whether fire-safety infrastructure at the hospital was installed, tested, and maintained as per regulatory norms. The outcome of the probe into the 2022 incident report review could also shape the scope of charges. Maharashtra's government hospitals remain under scrutiny, with the opposition pressing for systemic reforms across the state's public health infrastructure.