2 NURSES BOOKED IN CONNECTION WITH DEATH OF 10 INFANTS IN MAHA HOSPITAL

Maharashtra police have registered a case of criminal negligence against two staff nurses in connection with the fire at a government hospital in Bhandara in which 10 infants had died.

A case under IPC section 304(2) (causing death by negligence) has been registered against Shubhangi Sathavane and Smita Ambildukhe, both nurses, said director general of police Hemant Nagrale. Further probe is on, he said. The blaze had broken out at the Special Newborn Care Unit of the four-storeyed district hospital in Bhandara city last month.

The inquiry report said the two nurses were supposed to be at nursing stations but were out for paperwork at the time of the fire.

The ward had 17 infants admitted to it when the fire broke out. Seven of them were rescued. The two nurses and a paediatrician were earlier terminated for negligence following an inquiry.

A civil surgeon, the medical officer on duty, and another nurse were suspended. An additional civil surgeon was transferred.

The report said the ward caught fire due to either voltage fluctuation or internal insulation wear out in the control panel of the baby warmers. It cited a forensic report and added three infants died of the shock due to burns while seven others of suffocation. The report said inflammable material including plastic, cotton beds aggravated the fire.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh said the matter is being “thoroughly” probed by DSP-level officers.