Jhansi hospital fire: Post-mortem of 10 newborns underway; deputy CM promises multi-level probe
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who rushed to Jhansi, informed the media that the government is taking steps to ensure a thorough investigation into the NICU fire incident by the health department, the police and at the magisterial level.
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Jhansi: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak with others inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College where a fire broke out. (PTI Photo) The post-mortem of the 10 newborns who died in a fire at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the state-run Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh began on Saturday morning. All 10 babies had suffered burn injuries before succumbing on Friday night.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who rushed to Jhansi, informed the media that the government is taking steps to ensure a thorough investigation into the tragedy. He announced that inquiries would be conducted at three levels – by the health department, the police and district administration, besides a magisterial probe. He assured that strict action would be taken against those found responsible.
The fire broke out at around 10.20 pm on Friday and the authorities and hospital administration were immediately informed. Window panes were broken open to rescue the newborns from the NICU.
“The identities of all 49 newborns in the NICU have been confirmed. The post-mortem of the 10 newborns who perished in the fire has commenced,” said Dr N S Sengar, principal of the medical college.
The remains after a fire destroyed equipment and killed 10 babies inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district. (Photo: PTI)
The newborns who survived the fire have been relocated to another ward within the medical college, the district hospital, as well as private hospitals. The condition of the remaining 39 babies, who did not sustain burn injuries, is reported to be stable.
The principal stated that all fire extinguishers installed in the ward were operational and were used to extinguish the flames. A mock drill had been conducted in June.
“We had developed a detailed plan for responding to fire incidents. The medical college was divided into three sections, each supervised by a professor. All staff members were trained on fire response protocols, which proved helpful during this incident,” said the principal.
Jhansi: Family members wait outside the emergency ward after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district. (PTI Photo)
While attempting to save the newborns and extinguish the fire, a nurse identified as Meghna sustained burn injuries to her leg. She is currently undergoing treatment, and her condition is stable, he said.
The principal added that a new 51-bed NICU ward had been constructed, and they were planning to shift to it within a month. “The new ward was built to accommodate more capacity,” he said. The construction of the new NICU ward, equipped with the latest facilities, began about a decade ago.
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