By Avellon Williams
NEW DELHI, INDIA- In a horrific incident, a fire swept through Kamla Nehru Children’s Hospital in Central Bhopal, India, killing 4 infants with 36 rescued, officials said.
Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang, said that there were 40 children in total in the unit, out of which 36 have been rescued.
He said he arrived at the hospital within 10 minutes after the incident and that everything was now under control.
“The untimely death of children from the world is an unbearable pain,” Chauhan said on Twitter, offering his condolences to the families affected.
The children were being treated for various ailments ranging from cancer to cardiac problems.
An investigation was ordered into the fire that occurred Monday night at the Children’s Hospital, said Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the chief minister in Madhya Pradesh state.
While an inquiry is still ongoing, authorities told the media that they believe it could have started in one of the dialysis units on the second floor due to a short circuit.
Fatal building fires are not uncommon in India, where poor maintenance and lack of proper firefighting equipment often lead to deaths.
In recent years the hospital had been praised for its state-of-the-art facilities and doctors who have won accolades from across the world for their care and compassion.
The hospital has now become under scrutiny due to allegations that the building was unsafe.
