NEW DELHI: In a tragic incident, a fire broke out in the children's ward of a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district, leading to the death of at least 10 infants. Hospital authorities confirmed that 16 other newborns sustained injuries and remain in critical condition. This devastating event has left families and the local community in shock.

The fire occurred in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where approximately 54 infants were receiving treatment. The chaotic aftermath saw desperate efforts to rescue as many children as possible from the engulfing flames. "This is a very sad and unfortunate incident. 10 newborns died in the fire, and around 35 newborns were rescued," said BJP MLA Rajeev Singh Parichha, addressing the scale of the tragedy.

He further assured the public of the medical team's commitment to saving lives. "Doctors are giving the best possible treatment to the injured newborns. Government is in touch with medical college doctors," he added, highlighting the coordinated response between the state administration and healthcare professionals.

The cause of the fire is suspected to be a short circuit, although investigations are still ongoing to confirm the exact reason behind the disaster. Parents of the affected infants have demanded answers, while authorities work to prevent such incidents in the future.

Short circuit could be the cause

Jhansi district magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar shared critical details about the devastating fire that occurred in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College. The incident, which claimed the lives of 10 infants, unfolded around 10:45 pm on Friday. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire might have been caused by a short circuit, though investigations are ongoing.

Rescue efforts during the fire managed to save children from both the outer and inner sections of the NICU. The swift action by medical staff and emergency responders prevented further loss of life. "Prima facie there is information of the death of 10 children," DM Avinash Kumar confirmed, emphasizing the tragic scale of the incident.

UP government orders probe

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a comprehensive multi-level investigation into the fire at the medical college. On Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak addressed the media, expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy and outlining the steps being taken to determine accountability.

"The death of the newborns is very unfortunate. Along with the family members, we are trying to identify the bodies of newborns," Pathak stated. He elaborated on the structure of the investigation, explaining that it would include three levels of inquiry. "The first probe will be done at the administrative level which will be done by the health department, the second probe will be conducted by the Police administration...fire department team will also be a part of it, third, instructions have been given for the magisterial probe as well. The cause of the fire will be probed," he explained.

The deputy CM assured the public that accountability would be enforced. "If any lapses are found, those who would be responsible, strict action will be taken against them and no one will be spared. The government is with the family members of the children," he concluded, reinforcing the government’s commitment to supporting the affected families and ensuring justice.

Chief minister announces compensation

In the wake of the devastating fire at Jhansi Medical College, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial assistance to support the grieving families. The relief measures were outlined in a statement from the UP Chief Minister's Office (CMO), which detailed the compensations being extended. "On the instructions of the chief minister, assistance of Rs 5 lakh each is being provided to the parents of the newborn babies who died in the incident and Rs 50,000 each to the families of the injured from the chief minister's Relief Fund. The chief minister has directed the divisional commissioner and DIG of Jhansi to submit a report regarding the incident within 12 hours," the CMO stated in a post on X.

The announcement reflects the government’s acknowledgment of the immense loss suffered by the families and its efforts to provide some solace amidst this heartbreaking tragedy.

PM calls incident 'heart wrenching'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound sorrow over the loss of lives in the fire incident, offering condolences to the bereaved families. "Heartbreaking! The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss," he said, capturing the collective grief felt across the nation.

Highlighting the ongoing response, the Prime Minister also noted, "The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed his sorrow and issued directives for immediate action. In a statement posted in Hindi on X, he described the incident as "extremely sad and heartbreaking" and reiterated his commitment to ensuring the injured receive proper medical care. "District administration and concerned officials have been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing," he added.

President Droupadi Murmu shared her profound grief over the tragic loss of lives in the fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi. “The news of the death of several newborn babies in the accident at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely heartbreaking. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and families to bear this cruel blow. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured babies,” she said, offering her condolences to the grieving families and expressing hope for the recovery of the injured infants.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also voiced his sorrow, emphasizing the need for accountability in such a grave incident. “The news of the death of innocent children in the accident at the medical college in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely painful. Our deepest condolences to the families of all the children who died in this heartbreaking accident. May God give strength to their families to bear this sorrow,” Kharge stated, conveying his heartfelt sympathy for the affected families.

In addition to his condolences, Kharge stressed the importance of justice, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. “Strict legal action against whoever is guilty of such negligence,” he added, highlighting the need to address any lapses that contributed to this tragedy.

The fire has also drawn a strong reaction from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati, who expressed her anguish over the avoidable loss of innocent lives. “The extremely sad incident of the death of 10 newborn babies due to fire in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, UP, has naturally caused uproar and anger. Strict legal punishment is necessary for the culprits responsible for such fatal negligence,” Mayawati said, pointing to the public outcry over the tragedy.

Acknowledging the irreparable nature of the loss, she urged the government to take every possible step to support the affected families. “It is impossible to compensate for such incidents, the government must help the affected families in every possible way,” she stated, reinforcing the need for immediate and meaningful assistance to those impacted by the heartbreaking event.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken swift action in response to the tragic fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi. He has directed the Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Jhansi to submit a comprehensive report on the incident within the next 12 hours, signaling the urgency with which the state government is handling the matter.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak provided further updates on the efforts to identify the deceased. He confirmed that DNA tests will be carried out to identify three of the newborns who tragically lost their lives, as seven have already been identified. "The state government will conduct a multi-level investigation into the cause of the fire," Pathak assured, reinforcing the commitment to uncover the truth and prevent such tragedies in the future.

'Direct case of negligence,' says Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav strongly criticized the incident, describing it as both heartbreaking and alarming. "The news of 10 children dying and many children getting injured due to fire in Jhansi Medical College is extremely sad and worrying. Heartfelt condolences to everyone," Yadav expressed, echoing the collective grief and concern over the incident.

He further alleged negligence in the handling of medical equipment as a likely cause of the fire. "The fire is reported to have been caused by an 'oxygen concentrator'. This is clearly a case of negligence by medical management and administration or the use of poor-quality oxygen concentrators. All responsible individuals should face punitive action," Yadav asserted, emphasizing the need for accountability.

In a sharp critique of the state leadership, Yadav urged the chief minister to prioritize addressing the state’s healthcare challenges over political engagements. "The chief minister should focus on the deterioration of health and medical services instead of election campaigning and making false claims of everything being fine," he added, pointing to the broader systemic issues that require immediate attention.