JHANSI HOSPITAL FIRE KILLS 10 INFANTS

Jhansi DM Avinash Kumar said fire brigades and officials quickly responded to the NICU fire, likely caused by a short circuit.

- TIKAM SHARMA & BADAR BASHIR

A devastating fire broke out late Friday night at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, leaving 16 children critically injured and claiming the lives of 10 newborns. The blaze, which started around 10:45 p.m. in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), resulted in a tragic loss despite the successful rescue of 44 other children.

The NICU is a specialized unit providing critical care for premature, low-weight, and seriously ill infants.

The rescued children were transferred to the PICU ward, where they were reported to be safe. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit. However, allegations have surfaced claiming the hospital's firefighting equipment was expired and non-functional. The Uttar Pradesh government has refuted these claims, asserting that all medical equipment was in proper working condition.

Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar stated that upon learning of the incident, fire brigade and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Senior officers and Health Department officials also arrived promptly to coordinate and carry out rescue and relief operations with urgency. Kumar informed reporters that the fire broke out around 10:45 p.m. on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a short circuit.

One eyewitness reported that a nurse urgently approached him, informing him of a fire in the NICU.

He immediately rushed to assist in rescuing the babies, accompanied by two other nurses. During the rescue operation, he discovered that the fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment were not functioning.