Six new-born babies died due to air conditioning (AC) gas leakage at Ad-Deen Hospital located in Moghbazar, capital. The tragic incident took place in the post-operative ward of the hospital on Wednesday (May 27) morning.
Deputy Commissioner of Police of Ramna Division of DMP Sheikh Zahidul Islam confirmed the truth of the incident. He said that the investigation of the incident is going on.
Initially, it was reported that gas leakage occurred when the AC system in one of the hospital’s wards was faulty. After that, the physical condition of the children under treatment in that ward deteriorated. At one stage six newborns died.
According to hospital sources, there were 11 mothers and six newborn babies in the post-operative ward at the time of the incident. The babies who died were between one and two days old.Director (Administration) of the hospital Tariqul Islam Mukul said that he came to know that the incident happened at night. He also said that the details will be given after going to the hospital.
After the incident, the atmosphere became heavy with the cries of the relatives in the hospital. The grandmother of one of the children alleged that the doctors failed to bring the situation under control but they were not advised to take them to another hospital. He said, he was told that the child was taken to the ICU, but later found out that he was no longer alive.
Another parent complained that not enough doctors and nurses were present in the ward at night. Although the children were crying, vomiting and showing signs of illness, no immediate action was taken.
Doctor of the hospital. Nahida Yasmin said that when the two children fell ill, they were taken to the NICU. Later he was brought back to the ward. Around 6 am all the babies were transferred back to the NICU when they got sick. Ventilation was given but ultimately they could not be saved.
DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmad said, “The mother of a newborn child asked to turn off the AC as she felt cold. After turning the AC on again, the children started getting sick.”
He also said that the crime scene team of CID is working at the spot and evidence is being collected. Detailed information will be given after the investigation.
