Government hospital NICU on fire; 29 babies rescued

Tumakuru: The air-conditioner in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the district hospital in Tumakuru caught fire on Friday evening. The staffs at the NICU have rescued 29 newborns from the fire.

The hospital staffs smelt something burning and found the spot on fire and pressed the fire alarm button. The Fire and Emergency services rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.

The cause for the fire is said to be a short circuit. It is because of Ramesh and Chikkasiddamma’s presence of mind that the newborns were rescued. They were attending the babies at the NICU and immediately shifted the babies to a safe place.

Deputy Commissioner KP Mohan Raj has informed that the babies are shifted to Sridevi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research hospital and Siddaganga hospital. He also said that there were two NICU’s in the hospital. One with 10 babies and the other had 19 babies. All 29 babies are safely shifted without any harm, he added.

MLA Dr Rafique Ahmed visited the hospital to look through the situation.