Three newborns die after fire in Amravati government hospital NICU

Three newborn babies died after a fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit of the District Women’s Hospital in Amravati, Maharashtra, early on 24 August 2026. The blaze began when a ventilator sparked at approximately 3.15 a.m. on the third floor of the hospital.

Hospital staff on duty evacuated the remaining infants. Police said 36 other newborns were taken to safety. Six of the babies from the affected unit were shifted to a super-speciality hospital for further treatment. One of them was reported critical with burns to the hands and legs; three others sustained minor burns.

The unit that caught fire had nine babies. The three who died succumbed to smoke inhalation rather than burns, according to local reports. The hospital has three Special Newborn Care Units with a combined capacity of 39 beds.

Maharashtra officials ordered a high-level probe into the cause of the fire and the condition of the equipment. The incident has drawn attention to fire-safety standards and electrical maintenance in government neonatal units, where vulnerable infants depend on continuous oxygen and monitoring devices.

District authorities confirmed that the remaining infants were transferred to other facilities, including the Divisional Referral Services Hospital and Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Medical College Hospital. The Maharashtra government has said it will examine both the immediate technical failure and any broader gaps in safety protocols.