Seven member committee formed to probe Amravati hospital fire, to submit report within 7 days

Amravati (Maharashtra), Aug 25 (IANS) A seven-member committee has been set up by the Maharashtra government to conduct a probe into the fire that broke out at the District Women's Hospital in Amravati, claiming the lives of three newborn babies, and submit its report within seven days, District Magistrate Ashish Yerekar said on Tuesday. 

Yerekar said that the committee will be headed by Public Health Services Commissioner Sanjay Katkar. It also includes a doctor from AIIMS Nagpur, a Chief Engineer from the Electrical Department, and four other members having knowledge of the medical field, he said.

A day earlier, CM Devendra Fadnavis said: "The strictest possible action will be taken against those responsible for this incident. Both the Health Minister and the Secretary have been instructed to visit Amravati today itself. The incident of the death of three children is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. We share in the grief of their families."

Speaking to IANS, DM Yerekar said: "Following the very unfortunate incident that took place yesterday at Dufferin Hospital in Amravati, the Maharashtra government has constituted a seven-member committee. That committee will begin its visit tomorrow. In light of that visit, I am today conducting a full inspection here."

He said that since the preliminary assessment suggests that a spark occurred in a ventilator in the NICU, the technical team of the company, from whom the ventilators had been procured, have been called to conduct an inspection of the devices.

"The technical team (of the company) has been called tomorrow as well to record their statements before the committee," he added.

He further said that apart from the statement of the company's technical team, the committee will also record the statements of those present at the site of the incident.

"Following its probe, the committee has been asked to submit a report to the government within seven days, according to which the next action will be taken," he added.

The Amravati DM said that he assessed the damage caused to the medical equipment during his visit and asked certain questions to the technical team. "They have been asked to submit the answers in writing," he said.

"The Chief Minister (Fadnavis) has taken serious cognisance of the incident. He has said that even though we cannot return the lives lost in the tragedy, the families of the deceased infants will be compensated with Rs 5 lakh each," he stated.

--IANS

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