Heart-rending, thoughts with bereaved families: PM; those responsible for negligence will not be spared, vows CM Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: The owner of a Delhi hospital where seven babies were killed in a fire has been arrested, the Delhi Police said. Another doctor who was on duty when the fire broke out has also been arrested.
Dr Naveen Khichi, the owner of New Born Baby Care Hospital in East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, had been on the run since Saturday night after the fire broke out.
The police said he runs many other hospitals in Delhi. Dr Akash, 25, was the one who was on duty on Saturday night when the fire broke out.
Oxygen cylinders kept in the two-storey building exploded due to which the adjacent buildings were damaged, the fire department had said.
Firefighters also faced challenges during the rescue operation as the lane was narrow, with overhead wires.
“Several people had gathered at the spot and were recording videos. Many of them came close to those trying to douse the flames,” a fire department officer said. “Another challenge we faced was there was no water source. Low-hanging electrical wires were a big problem,” the officer added.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said the commission’s team will visit the hospital to investigate the incident.
People who saw the huge fire engulf the children’s hospital had scaled the compound wall, and climbed from the rear side of the building to rescue newborns, eyewitnesses told news agency PTI.
The eyewitnesses said local residents and members of a non-profit, Shaheed Seva Dal, were the first to rush to help.
Ravi Gupta, a resident, said locals were the first to enter the burning hospital and bring out as many babies as they could.
They were soon joined by fire department officials and the police. A member of the Sewa Dal alleged the hospital staff ran away soon after the building caught fire. Another resident, Mukesh Bansal, alleged an illegal oxygen refilling cylinder work was being carried out in the building.
“We had complained about it to the local councillor as well. But nothing was done. It was all happening under the nose of the police,” Mr Bansal alleged. He said he used to live next to the hospital, but due to the “illegal” work of refilling cylinders, he shifted to the next lane.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the heart-rending fire tragedy at a Delhi child-care hospital which claimed the lives of seven babies.
In a social media post on his official ‘X’ account, Modi said, “The fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi is heart-rending. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this incredibly difficult time. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that whoever was responsible for the negligence will not be spared even as authorities investigate the incident.
“This incident of fire in a children’s hospital is heart-rending. We all stand with those who have lost their innocent children in this accident. Government and administration officials are providing treatment to the injured. The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi Health Minister Sourabh Bharadwaj said that he has sought an update on the current situation from the Health Secretary and vowed strictest punishment for those found negligent or involved in any wrongdoing.
“Very unfortunate incident reported. I have asked the Secretary(Health) to update about the current situation. Culprits will not be spared. Strictest punishment will be ensured for those found negligent or involved in any wrong doing,” he said.
Agencies

Agencies