In a tragic event, Dr. Naveen Khichi, the owner of New Born Baby Care Hospital located in East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar neighborhood, and an on-duty doctor at the same facility have been taken into custody. This follows a fire incident that resulted in the deaths of seven newborns. Dr. Khichi had been evading arrest since the fire started late on Saturday night, May 25, 2024.
The blaze began around 11:30 p.m. causing panic and confusion. Of the 12 infants admitted to the hospital, one succumbed on the spot, another passed away during treatment, and five were pronounced dead upon arrival at a different hospital. Five infants remain in treatment.
Upon thorough investigation into the incident, authorities discovered numerous alarming discrepancies. The hospital’s license, which was only valid for five beds, expired in March, and the facility was operating without essential fire safety equipment like fire extinguishers and fire exits. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Surendra Choudhary reported, “During the investigations, we got to know that the doctors are not qualified to treat the newborn children in need of neonatal intensive care, as they are BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) degree holders only.”
In response to the incident, the Delhi government has initiated a magisterial inquiry to determine the exact cause of the fire and to assign accountability. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire, but clear violations of safety protocols were also found. Oxygen cylinders, believed by locals to be part of an illicit oxygen refilling operation in the building, exploded during the fire. Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has urged for fire audits in all Delhi hospitals, declaring, “On April 24, we issued directions for fire preparedness. We will ask all private and Delhi government-run hospitals to complete a fire audit by June 8 and submit a compliance report.”
The incident has deeply affected the local community. The fathers of two of the deceased infants relayed their sorrow, describing how they heard about the fire from news sources and friends. One father shared, “I rushed to the hospital hoping for the best but faced the worst nightmare instead.”
Dr. Khichi, a pediatrician, and his wife, a dentist, operate multiple clinics throughout Delhi. This is not the first time the hospital has faced scrutiny. In 2021, Khichi was charged for alleged mistreatment of a newborn, and the hospital was discovered to be unregistered under the Delhi Nursing Home Act.
Despite the tragedy, the local community demonstrated remarkable courage. Two nurses and several local residents risked their lives to save as many infants as they could. Minister Bharadwaj stated, “We will recommend their names for bravery awards.”
As the probe continues, the primary focus is on preventing similar incidents in the future. The Delhi government aims to expedite compensation for the impacted families while enforcing stricter safety regulations in hospitals across the city.