13 newborns among several rescued after fire at Ahmedabad hospital

A paramedic runs with a newborn child as fire fighters carry out rescue operation following a fire at Apple Children Hospital near Parimal Garden in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Officials said over 200 persons were rescued from the shopping complex. Of this, 75 persons were airlifted from the terrace of the complex.

“The fire had started from a server room at a private CA firm on the third floor due to unknown reasons after which heavy smoke started emitting. Several neonatal babies, who were kept in the hospital, and their parents reached the terrace for safety. A total of 75 persons were rescued with the help of ALP sky lift. No injuries were reported and the babies were shifted to a nearby hospital,” Om Jadeja, a senior official of Ahmedabad Fire Safety Department, told The Indian Express.

The fire was first reported around 12:30 pm after which teams of the fire safety department rushed to the spot. The fire was doused by 3 pm.

Incidentally, on May 13, 2019, a similar fire had broken out in the canteen of Apple Hospital after which hundreds of patients were evacuated. The hospital was sealed for months after the 2019 fire.