A devastating fire broke out late Friday night in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, claiming the lives of 10 newborns and leaving 16 others critically injured.
The blaze, reportedly caused by a short circuit, created a stampede-like situation as frantic parents and hospital staff scrambled to rescue infants.
Of the 54 infants in the ward at the time, 44 were successfully evacuated by hospital staff, parents and emergency responders. Heroic efforts emerged amid the chaos. Kuldeep, a resident of Mahoba, saved three children from the engulfed ward, sustaining burns in the process, while desperately awaiting news of his own newborn. Tragically, Mangal Singh, another parent, lost his child but acted selflessly to rescue others.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire extinguisher cylinders had a filling date of 2019 with an expiry in 2020. The fire alarm system failed to activate during the incident.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident, stating that any negligence identified at any level will be met with strict action. He has also announced compensation for the victims’ families.
“Heartbreaking incident at Jhansi Medical College. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their children. Praying for their strength. The local administration, under state government supervision, is ensuring all possible relief efforts,” PM Modi shared on X.
This tragic incident underscores the critical need for stringent safety protocols in healthcare facilities to protect vulnerable patients. Investigations are ongoing to hold accountable those responsible for this catastrophic loss.
