Jhansi: A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in northern India on Friday night as a devastating fire ripped through the neonatal ward of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College Hospital in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, claiming the lives of at least 10 newborns.
The blaze has left the community in shock, with anguished parents gathered outside the hospital, searching for answers in the aftermath of their unimaginable loss.
The fire broke out in the intensive care unit of the infants’ ward around 10:30 PM local time, trapping vulnerable newborns in their cribs. Despite the quick action of hospital staff, who managed to rescue 44 infants, at least 16 remain in critical condition, with many struggling for their lives.
The blaze is suspected to have been sparked by an electrical short circuit or a malfunction in a machine that regulates oxygen levels for the babies.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu has expressed grief over the tragic loss of innocent lives in the fire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow on social media, calling the deaths “heart-wrenching” and offering his deepest condolences to the grieving families. The prime minister has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from the Prime Minister’s National Relief fund for the next of kin of each deceased person in the fire accident.
PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in the fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000. https://t.co/V8VVQqBb6M
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 16, 2024
Local officials confirmed on Saturday that three bodies of the newborns are still unidentified. Authorities have vowed to investigate the cause of the fire, while Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak revealed that the hospital had undergone a safety review in February, with a fire drill taking place as recently as June.
In a move to support the grieving families, state officials announced a compensation package of 500,000 rupees (roughly $5,900) for those affected by the tragedy.
This tragic incident marks the second fatal hospital fire in India within just six months. In May, six newborns were killed in a fire at a private neonatal facility in Delhi, further highlighting the urgent need for stringent safety measures in healthcare facilities across the country.
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