Sick Newborn Care Unit fire: Nurses, drivers, other staff risked lives to save babies

BHANDARA: They had just finished feeding the babies and were about to record details when they heard multiple blasts. They were caught in a thick cloud of smoke and could hardly see anything.
Yet, on-duty nurses Shubhangi Sathawane (32) and Smita Ambilduke (34) managed to carry seven babies out after fire broke out at the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at the District General Hospital here early on Saturday morning.The duo raised an alarm which alerted security guards, ambulance drivers and locals. Even as the fire brigade started deploying personnel, attendant Ajit Purjekar went up the hospital building from the back side and opened the emergency door to let the smoke out.
In-charge nurse Jyoti Choudhary, who had returned home, too rushed back to assist her colleagues. “Ajit helped us to rescue the babies that were alive and we shifted them to a safer place,” said Shubhangi. The other staff members said the seven babies were saved mainly due to the efforts of Shubhangi, Smita and Ajit. Shubhangi and Smita lamented that they couldn’t do much for the 10 infants who were in a room inside.
There were also private ambulance driver Imran Sheikh and his friend Dhanasheel Khobragade who reached the hospital from different parts of the district to help. Dhanasheel travelled from Lakhni, 20 km away, to volunteer. The others — Rahul Gupta, another private ambulance operator, and security staff Gaurav Rehpade and Shivam Madavi — risked their lives to save the babies.