A three-member inquiry committee is set to submit its report within 72 hours

Staff Correspondent

The environment inside the section of Ad-din Medical College Hospital’s post-delivery ward where six newborns died had a “suffocating” environment with no proper ventilation after the air-conditioning system stopped working, according to the Pravath Chandra Biswas, director general of health services.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, Pravath said failure of the air conditioning system or other factors created a stifling environment inside the room around dawn.

“The AC was set up in such a way that when it was switched off, there was no ventilation at all,” he added.

He added that a three-member enquiry committee has been formed to look into the matter and submit a report within the next three days.

The news of the six newborns’ deaths on the morning before Eid-ul-Azha sent shockwaves across the country, prompting police and health officials to rush to the medical facility.

While families of the dead children have alleged negligence, authorities could not immediately pinpoint the exact cause of death.

Calling the incident “untoward and unusual”, the heath DG said 11 mothers were inside the ward at the time, six of whom had their babies with them.

The infants were aged between one and three days, while the remaining five babies were undergoing treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The DGHS chief said there had been no ventilation arrangement in the ward if the AC was switched off, leaving the room in a condition where breathing became difficult.

“These newborns were staying in such conditions for treatment. Under the circumstances, we lost six babies in the early morning,” he added.

To determine whether there were any lapses on the part of management and to uncover the exact causes of the deaths, he said a high-powered enquiry committee has been formed.

The probe body includes a joint secretary from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, an official holding the rank of deputy director from the DGHS hospital wing, and another DGHS official.

Pravath said: “The committee will investigate if there were any flaws in the medical care provided in the room where these children died, and assess the treatment environment.

“They will look into the questions raised about the air conditioning complications or any other technical faults to find out the true cause of death.

“The team will deliver its report within 40 to 72 hours, and the government will take strict action based on its findings.”

The director general warned that any lapse, whether managerial, infrastructural or technical, would face graded disciplinary measures following the investigation.