Owner and Doctor Arrested in Connection with Deadly Incident?
New Delhi: The owner of a Delhi hospital, where a fire killed seven babies, has been arrested, according to the Delhi Police. Another doctor on duty at the time of the fire has also been taken into custody.
Dr. Naveen Khichi, the proprietor of New Born Baby Care Hospital in Vivek Vihar, East Delhi, had been evading authorities since the fire erupted on Saturday night.
The police stated that he runs several other hospitals in Delhi. Dr. Akash, 25, was on duty on Saturday night when the fire broke out.
The fire department reported that oxygen cylinders kept in the two-story building exploded, causing damage to adjacent buildings.
Firefighters faced challenges during the rescue operation due to the narrow lane and overhead wires.
"A number of individuals had assembled at the scene, recording videos. Some of them encroached upon those attempting to extinguish the flames," stated a fire department official. "Furthermore, we encountered difficulty due to the absence of a nearby water source. Low-hanging electrical wires posed a significant hazard," the official added.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson, Priyank Kanoongo, stated that the commission's team will visit the hospital to investigate the incident.
People who saw the huge fire engulf the children's hospital scaled the compound wall and climbed the rear side of the building to rescue newborns, eyewitnesses told news agency PTI.
Local residents and volunteers from the non-profit organization Shaheed Seva Dal were reported to be the first responders, according to eyewitnesses.
Eyewitnesses told news agency PTI that people who saw the huge fire engulf the children's hospital scaled the compound wall and climbed the rear side of the building to rescue newborns.
Eyewitnesses mentioned that local residents and members of a non-profit organization, Shaheed Seva Dal, were the first to rush to help.
Ravi Gupta, a resident, stated that 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 that the hospital staff ran away soon after the building caught fire. Another resident, Mukesh Bansal, alleged that 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.
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