Jhansi: A devastating fire broke out late Saturday night at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, claiming the lives of 10 newborns. Chief Medical Superintendent Sachin Mahor confirmed that the fire, caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator, occurred between 10:30 and 10:45 pm. Of the 49 babies in the NICU at the time, 39 were rescued and are in stable condition. Efforts are still underway to identify the bodies of three babies to hand them over to their grieving parents.
The fire spread rapidly in the oxygen-rich NICU environment, engulfing the ward where over 50 newborns were receiving treatment. While medical staff managed to save the majority of the infants, the tragedy has left many families anxiously awaiting clarity on the fate of their children. Survivors remain stable, while authorities focus on relief efforts and investigation into the safety lapses that led to the disaster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it “heart-wrenching” in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He announced financial aid of Rs. 2 lakh for each deceased child’s family and Rs. 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his condolences as well, pledging Rs. 5 lakh to the parents of each deceased infant and Rs. 50,000 to injured families from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He also directed officials to submit a detailed report on the incident within 12 hours.
As the affected families grapple with their loss, questions are being raised about hospital safety standards and preparedness. The tragedy has left the local community in mourning, with urgent calls for accountability and enhanced safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
