Gwalior: A potential disaster was averted today when a fire broke out in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of the Kamla Raja Hospital, a government medical facility in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The blaze, reportedly caused by a short circuit, posed a serious threat to over 15 newborns in the PICU. Quick action by hospital staff and the presence of fire extinguishers helped prevent a tragedy.
Sources indicate that the fire underscores ongoing issues at Kamla Raja Hospital, including outdated electrical wiring that has not been updated for years, making short circuits a frequent concern. Despite repeated calls for renovations, a lack of funding has hindered any necessary upgrades.
The hospital, which has more than 450 beds, is managed by a trust with government support and faces chronic challenges such as a significant shortage of doctors and non-functional medical equipment, jeopardizing patient care.
The situation in the PICU is particularly alarming, with two to four newborns often sharing a single bed. Footage circulating on social media has highlighted these dire conditions, prompting questions about the state government’s dedication to providing quality healthcare.
This incident occurs amid rising worries about medical negligence throughout Madhya Pradesh. In a tragic case from Sidhi district, a woman had to give birth outside a government hospital late Sunday night after being denied admission, resulting in the newborn’s death just 30 minutes later.
Such incidents, where patients must be transported on bicycles or bullock carts due to inadequate ambulances or infrastructure, illustrate the grim state of healthcare in the region.
The Kamla Raja Hospital fire serves as a crucial reminder for authorities to tackle the systemic problems within healthcare facilities. Without prompt intervention, the likelihood of similar incidents remains a serious concern.