Key Points
- 10 newborns died in a fire at Jhansi hospital’s NICU.
- The fire was caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator.
- Opposition parties blame hospital negligence, while BJP promises relief.
- Uttar Pradesh CM orders an investigation and announces Rs 10 lakh compensation for victims’ families.
- Prime Minister Modi and local authorities express condolences and call for relief efforts.
- The incident happened on Friday night, with around 47 newborns in the ward.
Looma News
A fire broke out at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, killing 10 newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The fire started late on Friday night, around 10:30 pm, allegedly caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator. The fire spread quickly in the oxygen-rich ward, creating chaos as people tried to escape. At the time of the fire, around 47 newborns were being treated in the NICU.
The Samajwadi Party has accused the hospital of negligence, claiming that warnings about the short circuit were ignored. They also criticized the state government’s response to the incident. Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav urged Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to focus on improving healthcare in the state instead of campaigning in Maharashtra.
In response, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath ordered a high-level investigation into the fire, with a report expected by Saturday evening. He also announced financial aid, including Rs 10 lakh for each family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also handles the health department, confirmed that the fire was caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator. He added that DNA tests may be conducted to identify the victims if needed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, calling the incident heartbreaking. He assured that local authorities, with the support of the state government, were working to provide relief. Images from the hospital showed charred equipment in the NICU, with people scrambling to escape as the fire spread. Authorities have confirmed that seven of the 10 deceased infants have been identified, with the remaining three still awaiting identification.
