The incident of fire in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College, Uttar Pradesh late on Friday night has shocked everyone. The lives of 10 newborns ended in the fire incident. Taking immediate action, the Yogi government has formed a committee to find out the cause of the fire.
On this matter, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed deep condolences regarding the horrific fire. CM Yogi took cognizance of the fire incident in Jhansi Medical College. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased children. Late in the night, the Chief Minister has instructed the teams of the district administration and fire brigade to complete the relief work expeditiously.
Complete update on the incident so far
The cause of fire in Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College, Jhansi is being said to be electrical short-circuit, due to which the entire ward was filled with dense smoke. District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out in the NICU around 10.45 pm, possibly due to an electrical short circuit. Due to the oxygen-rich atmosphere, the ward soon caught fire, as oxygen is highly flammable. As a result, the fire spread within seconds, the Deputy Chief Minister said.
As soon as information about the fire was received, fire tenders reached the spot and the army was also called to help in the efforts to extinguish the fire. Officials have started investigating the cause of the fire.
Eyewitnesses said that smoke was first seen coming out of NICU at around 10:45 pm. When people nearby raised the alarm, there was chaos. Before anyone could do anything, the flames engulfed the ward. Despite efforts to get the children out, thick smoke and flames blocked the door, making it impossible to rescue them in time. Firefighters reached the spot within a short time and were successful in saving other infants.
– According to latest reports, 37 newborns were rescued from the ward, while panicked relatives gathered at the hospital seeking information about their children.
Jhansi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sudha Singh said on Saturday that 16 other children injured in this incident are undergoing treatment. According to PTI report, more than 50 children were admitted in the NICU at the time of the incident. He informed that all doctors are available to them and they also have adequate medical facilities.
– A couple from Mahoba district expressed grief over the death of their newborn child. The mother told reporters that the child was born at 8 am on November 13. “My child died in the fire,” PTI quoted the heartbroken mother as saying.
– In purported pictures received from Jhansi Medical College, panicked patients and their attendants are being taken out, while several policemen are helping in rescue and relief operations.
PTI quoted the SSP as saying, “The medical college has said that 52 to 54 children were admitted at the time of the incident. Of them, 10 have died, 16 are undergoing treatment while the confirmation of the others is underway.”
– He told that the rescue operation in NICU has been completed at around one o’clock.
– About Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi: This state-run medical college began services in 1968 and is one of the largest government hospitals in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.
