Panic at Jabalpur Medical College after smoke reported near NICU

Bhopal: Smoke triggered panic at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur on Thursday evening, around 8:30 pm, after it was reported near the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Authorities later confirmed that the smoke was caused by a short circuit outside the ward.

According to the news reports, as the smoke spread, anxious parents rushed towards the NICU in an attempt to take their babies, leading to a tense situation inside the hospital. Police from the Garha police station quickly reached the spot and brought the crowd under control.

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Amid the chaos, reports emerged claiming that a newborn had died during the incident, which further inflamed relatives’ anger. Hospital authorities clarified that the death had occurred earlier and was not related to the smoke incident.

Some relatives alleged that no doctors or ward staff were present at the time of the scare.

Responding to these allegations, Medical College Superintendent Dr. Arvind Sharma stated that all babies admitted to the NICU ward were completely safe and unaffected. Speaking to TOI, Superintendent Dr. Arvind Sharma said that the smoke was caused by a short circuit outside the NICU and confirmed that all newborns are safe.

Further details from Prasanna Sharma confirmed that the source of the smoke was a malfunctioning fan installed outside the ward. On-duty staff reportedly acted swiftly to control the situation before it could escalate into a major hazard.

Police and hospital authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. A review of safety arrangements and the exact cause of the short circuit is currently underway, reports Bhaskar English.

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Medical Dialogues had previously reported that panic gripped Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar after a fire broke out in the operation theatre (OT), prompting the emergency evacuation of patients, including newborns. Swift action by hospital staff and the Geetanjali fire station helped prevent a major tragedy, and no injuries or casualties were reported.