Jhansi Hospital fire: A fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), resulting in the death of 10 newborns at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College and Hospital in Jhansi on Friday evening . The fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, spread rapidly in the oxygen-rich environment of the ward, leading to a stampede as hospital staff and patients scrambled to escape.
Additional director general of police (Kanpur Zone) Alok Singh earlier said 47 infants were admitted to the ward at the time of the incident, adding 10 newborn babies died and 37 were rescued.
While the bodies of seven children have been identified, three remain unidentified, he said. Efforts are underway to establish their identities and reach their family members, Brijesh Pathak added.
The fire, which began around 10:30 PM, consumed the ward in a matter of seconds. At the time, 47 newborns were being treated in the NICU. Emergency services struggled for over two hours to control the blaze, with several individuals seen climbing out of windows in a desperate attempt to save themselves. The equipment in the ward, where the infants were kept, was completely charred, further amplifying the tragedy.
In the wake of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a high-level inquiry into the disaster, demanding a report by Saturday evening. The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of the deceased children, alongside Rs 50,000 for the injured.
“The death of children in an accident that took place in the NICU of the medical college in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The district administration and the concerned officials have been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured”, wrote CM Yogi Adityanath on X.
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