10 newborns perish, 16 injured in Jhansi hospital fire

INDIA-Ten newborn babies died and 16 others were injured after a devastating fire swept through the neonatal intensive care unit of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College Hospital in Jhansi city late Friday.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak revealed that emergency responders successfully evacuated 38 newborn babies from the ward where 49 infants were being cared for when the tragic incident occurred.

“We have Seventeen injured newborns receiving care in multiple hospital wings and private hospitals.”

“Seven of the deceased infants have been identified but we are still working to identify the remaining three”, Minister Pathak explained.

Deputy Chief Minister Pathak assured the public that the government fully supports the victims’ families and will conduct a thorough investigation into the fire circumstances.

“We stand firmly with the affected families in their hour of grief. Those responsible for this tragedy will be identified and held accountable, he said.”

The hospital’s safety preparedness has been called into question after parents and eyewitnesses reported that fire alarms in the ICU did not activate during the blaze.

“If only the alarm had worked, timely intervention could have changed the outcome for my baby and others,” said Naresh Kumar a parent who tragically lost his child in the blaze.

With a mix of relief and grief, Akhtar Hussain, a parent whose son was rescued and is receiving treatment in an adjacent ward, spoke out.
“This tragedy was avoidable, basic safety measures could have saved lives.”

In May, at least six newborn babies died in a fire at a children’s hospital in New Delhi, three years after a hospital fire in the western state of Maharashtra killed 10 newborns.