CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR — Swift intervention by medical staff and emergency responders averted a disaster in Maharashtra's Akashwani area early Friday morning, September 4, after a fire erupted at Asian City Care Hospital.
All 58 patients receiving care at the facility—including nine infants—were safely evacuated, preventing any injuries or casualties.
The blaze broke out around 3:00 AM on the premises, triggering immediate alarms across the hospital complex. At the time, nine newborn babies were being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU/PICU) alongside 49 adult patients in various wards.
Realizing the impending threat, on-duty doctors, nurses, and security staff initiated emergency protocols. Medical personnel disconnected life-support systems and safely carried critical infants and adults out of the building before heavy smoke could engulf the wards.
Fire tenders and nearly 20 ambulances were deployed to the site. Firefighters managed to contain and extinguish the flames within a short duration. Meanwhile, emergency teams coordinated a green corridor to transfer the evacuated patients to alternative facilities across the city. The nine infants were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital (Ghati) and surrounding private healthcare facilities, where pediatric teams continue to monitor their condition.
Preliminary assessments by investigating officials indicate that a short circuit in the hospital's storeroom likely triggered the blaze. Local authorities have launched a detailed inquiry to establish the precise sequence of events and evaluate whether safety compliance standards were met.
The incident follows a tragic fire at the Amravati District Women's Hospital just days prior, where three infants lost their lives following a ventilator breakdown. While the proactive response at Asian City Care Hospital prevented loss of life, the incident underscores ongoing concerns surrounding electrical and fire safety infrastructure across healthcare facilities in the region.
