A late-evening smoke incident at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, triggered panic inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), forcing the emergency evacuation of dozens of infants. Authorities confirmed that all newborns were safely shifted and no casualties were directly linked to the incident.
The incident occurred on March 27, 2026, around 8:30 PM, when smoke was detected near the NICU ward, causing immediate alarm among hospital staff and families.
Preliminary findings indicate that a short circuit, reportedly originating from a malfunctioning ceiling or exhaust fan installed outside the ward, led to smoke spreading into the NICU and adjoining pediatric areas.
Hospital officials stated that the smoke did not originate inside the NICU itself but from equipment located just outside the ward. Staff acted quickly to contain the situation before it escalated into a fire emergency.
Authorities evacuated more than 27 to 30 infants from the NICU and nearby pediatric units as a precautionary measure.
Medical teams immediately shifted the newborns to safer wards within the hospital. Fire tenders were also deployed to the scene, although the situation was brought under control within minutes.
Officials credited the swift response by hospital staff and functional fire safety systems for preventing a major tragedy.
As smoke spread, panic-stricken parents rushed toward the NICU, attempting to reach their babies. The situation quickly turned tense, prompting intervention from Garha police station personnel, who managed to control the crowd.
Tensions escalated further when heated arguments and minor scuffles broke out between families and hospital staff, with several relatives alleging negligence and lack of preparedness.
Some families also claimed that no doctors or ward staff were present at the time of the incident, raising concerns over emergency readiness.
During the chaos, reports circulated claiming that a newborn had died during the incident, intensifying anger among relatives.
However, hospital authorities clarified that the infant’s death had occurred earlier and was not related to the smoke incident.
Despite this clarification, the claim further fueled tensions and accusations against the hospital administration.
Medical College Superintendent Dr. Arvind Sharma confirmed that:
All babies admitted in the NICU were safe and unaffected
The smoke resulted from a short circuit outside the ward
The situation was quickly controlled by on-duty staff
Officials reiterated that no injuries or fatalities were caused by the incident.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine:
The exact cause of the electrical malfunction
Whether safety protocols were followed
If there were any lapses in hospital infrastructure or staff response
The review will also assess the hospital’s fire preparedness systems and emergency response mechanisms.
Some relatives alleged that this was not the first fire-related scare in the NICU, pointing to recurring safety concerns within the pediatric department.
These claims have added pressure on authorities to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents.
(Rh/ARC)
