By Matters India Reporter
Jhansi, Nov 16, 2024: Ten newborns were killed in a massive fire that broke out the neonatal ward in hospital at Jhansi, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The children died of burns and suffocation in the Rani Lakshmi Bai Medical College. The incident occurred around 10:30 pm on November 15.
A total of 54 children were admitted at the time of the incident and 44 could be rescued. Seven of the 10 victims have been identified, said Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister and the minister of medical education of Uttar Pradesh.
The casualties may go up, said an official, reports ndtv.com.
Visuals from outside the medical college showed panic-stricken patients and their caretakers, as police personnel aided rescue and relief measures. Inside the affected ward, several charred medical equipment was seen.
“A committee has been formed under Jhansi divisional commissioner to probe the incident. It will submit a report to the chief minister,” District Magistrate of Jhansi Avinash Kumar told the press.
Six fire brigade units and an Army firefighting vehicle were deployed to douse the flames. So far, 37 infants have been rescued safely, while over 50 are feared trapped. The ward was filled with thick smoke, exacerbating rescue challenges, reports the media.
Initial reports suggest a cylinder blast as the cause of the fire. The hospital’s electricity supply was cut as a precaution. The safety alarm failed to activate, potentially delaying evacuation efforts.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered rescue operations and an inquiry.