Hospital Fire In Jhansi Kills 10 Infants: UP Orders Probe, Refutes Reports Of Expired Extinguishers

A tragic fire at the children's ward of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi led to the death of 10 newborns. The Uttar Pradesh government formed a four-member committee to investigate the incident. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the fire to a short circuit and expressed condolences to the bereaved families, emphasizing coordinated efforts with officials to rescue other children.

The committee, headed by the Director General of Medical Education and Training, is tasked with identifying the cause of the fire and any negligence involved. They are expected to submit their findings within seven days. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed that firefighting equipment was operational, dismissing claims about expired extinguishers.

Government Response and Assistance

Adityanath instructed officials to extend full support to affected families. He reported that 54 newborns were rescued from the blaze. The state government announced financial aid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund: Rs 5 lakh for each deceased child's family and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

A comprehensive three-tier investigation into the incident has been ordered. This includes inquiries by the Jhansi Divisional Commissioner, DIG, and a magisterial probe. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also issued a notice demanding a detailed report within a week, citing negligence and human rights violations.

Political Reactions and Criticism

The tragedy has ignited political controversy in Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties have criticized the state government's handling of the situation, attributing the deaths to administrative negligence. This incident unfolds against the backdrop of upcoming bypolls for nine Assembly seats in the state.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their sorrow over this heartbreaking event. Modi announced additional assistance for victims' families. The fire occurred around 10:45 pm on a Friday, injuring 16 children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The hospital's principal refuted allegations regarding expired fire extinguishers as unfounded. A fire safety audit and mock drill had been conducted earlier in the year, confirming that all equipment was functional at that time.