Jhansi DM Avinash Kumar said fire brigades and officials quickly responded to the NICU fire, likely caused by a short circuit.
New Delhi: A devastating fire broke out late Friday night at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, leaving 16 children critically injured and claiming the lives of 10 newborns. The blaze, which started around 10:45 p.m. in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), resulted in a tragic loss despite the successful rescue of 44 other children. The NICU is a specialized unit providing critical care for premature, low-weight, and seriously ill infants.
The rescued children were transferred to the PICU ward, where they were reported to be safe. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit. However, allegations have surfaced claiming the hospital’s firefighting equipment was expired and non-functional. The Uttar Pradesh government has refuted these claims, asserting that all medical equipment was in proper working condition.
Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar stated that upon learning of the incident, fire brigade and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. Senior officers and Health Department officials also arrived promptly to coordinate and carry out rescue and relief operations with urgency. Kumar informed reporters that the fire broke out around 10:45 p.m. on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit.
One eyewitness reported that a nurse urgently approached him, informing him of a fire in the NICU. He immediately rushed to assist in rescuing the babies, accompanied by two other nurses. During the rescue operation, he discovered that the fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment were not functioning. He then ran out to call for additional help, and together with others, they managed to rescue the babies until the fire trucks arrived at the scene.
Parents and relatives of the newborns have recounted harrowing scenes of chaos and desperation during the fire at the NICU of the hospital. One man shared with the media that people broke windows to enter the ward, frantically grabbing any child they could to save lives. Another father, unable to locate his 3-day-old baby, said he managed to rescue 4-5 infants but tragically could not save his child. He expressed frustration, stating that despite repeatedly questioning the hospital staff, no one provided him with any answers.
A grieving mother described her anguish, saying, “I don’t know where my baby is. The fire broke out, and I couldn’t get inside to save him. No one could. Everyone was running in panic.” She also revealed that the hospital had earlier denied her access to her child. Another woman who lost her baby said she searched desperately after the incident but was later informed that her child had died.
Parents of some of the injured children have alleged that they are being denied access to their babies who are receiving treatment, leading to a brief protest on the hospital premises. Sources indicate that the restriction was imposed to prevent any confusion regarding the children’s identities.
Following the fire incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath promptly directed officials to expedite relief efforts. Senior officials oversaw the rescue operation, successfully evacuating most of the children within 15 to 20 minutes. The Chief Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed authorities to extend full support to the victims.
Following his directives, financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh is being provided to the families of the deceased children, while Rs 50,000 is being allocated to the families of injured children, underscoring the government’s commitment to their welfare.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Principal Secretary of Health Parth Sarathi Sen visited the site to oversee the ongoing relief and rescue operations. They were joined by senior officials from Jhansi, including the Commissioner, DIG, DM, SSP, and key health department officers. Deputy CM Pathak met with the families of the affected children, offering them comfort and reassurance.
Pathak announced that the causes of the incident are under investigation, with a multi-level probe underway. The first investigation will be conducted by the health department at the government level, the second by the district police and fire department, and the third through a magisterial inquiry. He assured that the exact cause would be determined and pledged strict action against any negligence.
The Deputy CM commended the bravery of the staff, doctors, and rescue teams who worked tirelessly to save the children, emphasizing that their care remains a top priority. He also reaffirmed that all firefighting equipment in the medical college was fully functional, citing a fire safety audit conducted in February and a mock drill carried out in June.
Dr. Narendra Singh Sengar, Principal of the Medical College, confirmed that the rescued children have been safely relocated to various wards within the medical college, the district hospital, and private nursing homes. He assured that all the children were unharmed, with no injuries from burns or suffocation. Dr Sengar further stated that the college is equipped with 146 fire extinguishers, all of which are regularly inspected to ensure they are in proper working condition. He explained, “The fire extinguisher in the NICU was operational and was used during the incident. Any issues identified in routine audits are immediately addressed. The most recent audit took place in February, followed by a successful mock drill in June.” Dr. Sengar rejected allegations of faulty fire extinguishers as unfounded, emphasizing that the fire in the NICU was caused by a short circuit. A thorough investigation into the incident is currently underway.
With input from Nikita Sareen, senior correspondent, India News.