Mumbai: Three newborn infants died after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a government hospital in Maharashtra's Amravati city early on Monday, officials said.

As many as 36 other newborns were rescued after the blaze occurred at the District Women's Hospital, Amravati Police Commissioner Rakesh Ola told Press Trust of India.

A ventilator in the hospital's NICU, which houses premature and critically ill infants, caught fire at approximately 3.15 a.m., he said.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who also serves as Amravati's guardian minister, said he has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident and assured that those injured were receiving all necessary medical assistance.

The NICU comprises three compartments: one each for inborn and outborn babies, and a step-down care unit for children preparing for discharge, Ola said, adding that 39 infants were admitted across the three sections.

A ventilator in the outborn babies' compartment caught fire. Three of the newborns in that section died, whilst the six other infants were rescued, the official said.

Another official noted that six infants have been admitted to a local super speciality hospital.

Following the outbreak of the blaze, hospital staff on duty rushed to the unit and safely evacuated the remaining children, Bawankule said in a post on X.

He stated the fire erupted at around 4 a.m. at the special newborn care unit in the new building of the District Women's Hospital, where premature, low-weight, and critically ill newborns were undergoing medical treatment.

Some infants were transferred to the Divisional Referral Services Hospital for further care. Four children were receiving treatment there, with one reported to be in a critical condition, Bawankule said.

Fire personnel and the Public Works Department's electrical wing have been notified and will investigate the cause of the fire, Ola said.

Bawankule expressed deep distress over the deaths and assured the families that the government would extend all required assistance.

"I am deeply saddened by today's incident in Amravati. My heart is heavy," he said.

"The government stands with the relatives of the deceased children, and the government and administration are providing all possible help," he stated.

The minister added that he had discussed the incident with the relevant authorities and that the administration was monitoring the situation closely.

PTI