Newborn dies after warmer catches fire at Madhya Pradesh hospital, 2 other infants injured

While the hospital authorities had shifted all three infants to Jabalpur Medical College for specialised treatment, one of them died later.

2 min readBhopalUpdated: Aug 23, 2026 05:00 AM IST

The incident occurred around 1.50 am when a spark in the filament of a warmer’s heating unit triggered a fire. (AI-generated image)

A newborn died while two others suffered burn injuries after a warmer caught fire inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Chhindwara District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh in the early hours of Saturday.

While the hospital authorities had shifted all three infants to Jabalpur Medical College for specialised treatment, one of them died later.

The incident occurred around 1.50 am when a spark in the filament of a warmer’s heating unit triggered a fire while three newborns were inside the equipment. Hospital staff immediately removed the infants from the warmer and extinguished the fire. The babies were subsequently examined by specialists, including the Dean and Medical Superintendent of Chhindwara District Medical College, before being referred to Jabalpur for further treatment. According to the hospital administration, there were 33 newborns in the unit when the incident occurred. While three infants were inside the warmer, the remaining 30 were safely evacuated from the unit.

Civil Surgeon Kanchan Dubey said the hospital staff acted swiftly after noticing the flames.

The injured babies were transported by ambulance under medical supervision, with doctors accompanying them during the journey.

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The incident also raised concerns over the availability of specialised paediatric care in Chhindwara, with the injured newborns being shifted to Jabalpur as a paediatric surgeon was not available at the Chhindwara facility.

Hospital staff later inspected the equipment and technicians were called to examine the warmer and other machines in the unit. The incident also triggered concern among the families of newborns admitted to the unit, with visuals from the hospital showing staff rushing to evacuate infants following the fire.

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Dubey, however, ruled out negligence at this stage and said the incident appeared to have been an accident. “Administrative officials will come and conduct their own investigation; I do not see any negligence here. It appears to be an accident,” she said.

The hospital administration is expected to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, including an examination of the warmer and other electrical equipment installed in the neonatal unit.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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