This story is from January 18, 2021

Inquiry panel yet to finalize report of Jan 9 Bhandara hospital fire that killed 10 babies

Inquiry panel yet to finalize report of Jan 9 Bhandara hospital fire that killed 10 babies
Nagpur: Divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar-led committee was yet to submit the report of inquiry into the Bhandara district general hospital fire which claimed the lives of 10 premature babies on January 9. Till reports last came in late on Sunday evening, Kumar was said to be still in the process of finalizing the crucial report which is likely to fix responsibility for the tragedy and also make suggestions on fire preventions in hospitals to the government.

Bhandara police too confirmed that the report was yet to be submitted till the time of going to the press. SP Vasant Jadhav told TOI that the police are already probing the case after registering Sec 174 under CrPC for accidental death. Action would be initiated after getting the expert committee report.
The panel was given an extended deadline till Sunday. Health secretary Pradeep Vyas had informed the state cabinet that the panel would submit its report on January 17.
Vyas and health commissioner Ramaswamy N didn’t respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
Sources said the panel completed its spot inspection and questioning of stakeholders three days ago. Since January 15, the panel members are in the city busy writing the report at the commissioner’s office in the old secretariat. On Sunday, the members met at the PWD Civil Lines office where Kumar too reached to finalize the first draft of the report.
Sources said the members are staying back late night to write the report and it is expected that they will finalize the first draft on Sunday night.

BMC deputy commissioner (fire safety) Prabhat Rahangdale, who is also assisting the Kumar committee, had visited Bhandara just once on January 12. He is said to be working on his report from Mumbai.
Dr Sadhana Tayade, GMCH paediatric head, Dr Dipty Jain, PWD representative, Bhandara collector’s representative and deputy chief fire officer (Mumbai) Rajendra Choudhary have majorly conducted the questioning and spot inspection. Panel chief Kumar has visited the hospital a couple of times.
Speculations about the submission of the much-awaited report were also doing the rounds with many claims surfacing about the hospital administrative officials facing the panel heat. Rumour mills were also doing the rounds regarding top officials being under the scanner. However, some members refuted the allegations.
On January 10, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had made it clear that no one would be made a scapegoat. It remains to be seen if the panel recommends any action against doctors and nurses at the hospital.
Four of the seven rescued babies discharged
The district general hospital at Bhandara has so far discharged four of the seven babies which were rescued on the night of January 9 from Sick newborn care unit (SNCU). The babies were shifted to family welfare department’s rooms after the fire at SNCU. The parents had been demanding discharge following the incident. They had accused the hospital administration of keeping their kids for show off as several VIPs flocked the hospital. One of the parents had a peculiar problem as the hospital discharged only one of the twin daughters and held back the other claiming she was still underweight. Two babies were discharged on Thursday while two more were allowed to go home by Saturday. The hospital has not disclosed about the remaining three babies.
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