10 Newborns Die, 16 Critical In UP Hospital Fire; PM Modi, Adityanath Announce Ex-Gratia

Jhansi: At least 10 children died after a massive fire broke out in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district on Friday night.

Sixteen others sustained injuries in the mishap, which occurred at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College around 10:45 pm.

“There were 54 babies admitted in the NICU ward. Suddenly a fire broke out inside Oxygen concentrator, efforts to douse the fire were done but since the room was highly oxygenated, fire spread quickly…many babies were rescued. 10 babies have died…injured babies are undergoing treatment,” Chief Medical Superintendent Sachin Mahor told ANI.

While seven of the 10 victims have been identified, DNA tests will be carried out if needed to identify the rest three, said Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak. He further stated that prima facie, the fire is suspected to have been caused due to a short circuit inside the oxygen concentrator. An eyewitness, however, told India Today that the fire broke out after a nurse lit a matchstick inside the ward to fix the pipe of an oxygen cylinder.

Prez, PM & Cong President Mourns Tragic Loss 

President Droupadi Murmu expressed her sorrow, stating, “The news of the death of several newborn babies in the accident at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely heartbreaking. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and families to bear this cruel blow. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured babies.”

While mourning the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 Lakhs from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the fire accident and Rs 50,000 for the injured. “…The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this tremendous loss. The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue,” he tweeted.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called for a “strict legal action against whoever is guilty of such negligence. “The news of the death of innocent children in the accident at the medical college in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely painful. Our deepest condolences to the families of all the children who died in this heartbreaking accident. May God give strength to their families to bear this sorrow,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh government has also announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the parents of the deceased. “On the instructions of the chief minister, an assistance of Rs 5 lakh each is being provided to the parents of the newborn babies, who died untimely in the incident, and Rs 50,000 each to the family members of the injured from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also ordered a high-level probe into the incident and sought a report by Saturday evening.