Terming the fire tragedy at Bhandara’s district general hospital as very unfortunate, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each victim. He also directed the administration to take immediate precautionary measures to avoid such anincident in future. The Governor was in Bhandara on Wednesday where he visited the general hospital that had recently witnessed the death of ten newborn babies in an inferno.

 

State Assembly Speaker Nana Patole, MP Sunil Mendhe, MLC Dr Parinay Fuke, Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondekar Tumsar MLA Raju Karemore, Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority and District Collector Sandeep Kadam and Superintendent of Police Vasant Jadhav accompanied Koshyari during the visit. Koshyari visited the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) where the fire had taken place. Collector Kadam gave him details of the incident and rescue operation held thereafter. The Governor also interacted with women patients who were in the hospital on the day of the incident. He instructed hospital staff to take good care of all those admitted in the hospital. Also, representatives of various organisations met with Governor Koshyari and submitted memorandum with him demanding proper action against the people responsible for the tragedy.

 

 

APEX child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Wednesday summoned Bhandara Collector Sandeep Kadam for not submitting an action taken report into the death of 10 infants in a fire. On January 9, the NCPCR had sought an action taken report within 48 hours into the death of 10 newborn babies. However, in a letter to the Collector, NCPCR said no report was received so far by the Commission about action taken in the matter. “Now, therefore, the Commission requires you to appear before the commission in this matter along with relevant records/ documents at 03.30 PM on January 18, 2021, Monday through video conferencing to explain the reasons for delay in providing the action taken report to the commission,” the NCPCR said in the letter.