The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Premature baby charred to death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 03, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Premature baby charred to death

Staff Reporter

Parents, relatives point accusing finger at Niloufer hospital

HYDERABAD: In a shocking incident, a premature baby was charred to death at Niloufer Hospital when the incubator caught fire following a short circuit in the wee hours of Monday.

For Umesh and his wife Durgeswari, the first day of the year turned out to be the last day for their baby which was born only on December 13. "She was our first baby," said Umesh, resident of Allwyn Colony, Kukatpally.

"How can such callousness be forgiven?" the baby's grandfather, Harilal, asked angrily even as Duregeswari wailed inconsolably.

While parents and relatives of the child blamed the hospital staff for negligence, the hospital authorities maintained that four other babies in the ward were saved by staff who acted promptly by switched off power.

Shocking sight

Durgeswari's mother said, "There was no nurse or doctor, only one ayah. We were with the baby till 1.30 a.m. when the glucose drip was removed, after which we went to sleep. Three to four women attenders slept inside the nursery.

At 2 around a.m., we heard one of the women sneeze and went in only to see the child engulfed in flames."

RMO denies charge

A 100 watt bulb fell on the baby's face along with wires and burnt it. When we lifted the baby, it was with the burnt bedsheets stuck on," a visibly shaken Durgeswari's uncle, N. Srinivas, said.

Blaming the hospital for the death of his granddaughter, he alleged that there was no proper earthing in the ward.

Resident Medical Officer Raj Kumar refuted the claim saying, "There were five babies in the nursery and four were rescued. The police have taken photographs of the rescued babies.

When the incident took place the night nurse was very much there and Resident Medical Officer on duty Lakshman Rao informed the police immediately."

Hospital superintendent N.C.K. Reddy described the incident as unfortunate.

The aggrieved parents lodged a complaint with the Nampally Police Station.

The police handed over the body to the parents after conducting post-mortem.

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