Fire broke out at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi. Brijesh Pathak said 17 other children injured in the fire are currently receiving treatment.
At least 10 newborn babies died due to burns and suffocation in a devastating fire in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi late on Friday night.
Deputy chief minister Brijesh Pathak, who reached Jhansi on Saturday morning, said a total of 49 children were in the ward, which has a capacity of only 18 beds.
While the bodies of seven children have been identified, three remain unidentified, he said. Efforts are underway to establish their identities and reach their family members, Brijesh Pathak added.
#WATCH | Jhansi Medical College Fire tragedy | UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak says, ” In February, the fire safety audit was done. In June, a mock drill was also done. How this incident happened and why it happened, we can only say something about it once the probe report comes…7… pic.twitter.com/KTQe1Y5Sc3
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2024
Pathak said 17 other children injured in the fire are currently receiving treatment in the emergency wing of the medical college and various private hospitals, with seven of them admitted to private facilities.
#WATCH | UP: The newborns who were rescued after a massive fire outbreak at the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College, undergo treatment
(Visual of the rescued newborns blurred)
The fire claimed the lives of 10 newborns pic.twitter.com/OdRdoPFZGZ
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2024
Additional director general of police (Kanpur Zone) Alok Singh earlier said 47 infants were admitted to the ward at the time of the incident, adding 10 newborn babies died and 37 were rescued.
PM Modi says every possible effort being made for relief, rescue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of children and said the local administration under the state government’s supervision is making every possible effort for relief and rescue.
“Heartbreaking! The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss,” Modi was quoted as saying in a post in Hindi on X by the Prime Minister’s Office.
“The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue,” he said.
Expressing anguish over the tragedy, chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered the Jhansi divisional commissioner and deputy inspector general of police Jhansi to investigate the incident. The officials have been asked to submit the report within 12 hours.
“The death of children in an accident that took place in the NICU of the medical college located in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. District administration and concerned officials have been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing,” he posted in Hindi on X.
He also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Ex gratia announced
The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Jhansi tragedy.
Yogi Adityanath, meanwhile, announced ₹5 lakh each to families of children who died and ₹50,000 to families of those injured in the fire incident.
Brijesh Pathak said the state government will bear the expense of treating four children being treated at private hospitals.