Newborn rescued from Jhansi hospital that caught fire dies

Ten babies were killed in the Friday incident while 39 were rescued. A total of 49 newborns were undergoing treatment in the NICU ward at the time.

The rescued infants were shifted to another ward in the medical college, the district hospital, and private hospitals. None of the rescued babies sustained injuries in the fire, officials had claimed on Saturday.

Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar said, “The rescued newborn died on Sunday due to an illness.”

On Sunday afternoon, Kumar along with other officials of the district administration reached the medical college and met the hospital staff and families of the rescued newborn undergoing treatment there.

Meanwhile, the district administration and the hospital authorities are investigating a claim by a 36-year-old resident of Golpura in Jhansi that his baby went missing after the hospital ward fire on Friday night.

Kripa Ram, a farmer, had admitted his son born on November 8 to the hospital for treatment since the baby suffered some health complications. A few days after the admission, Ram’s wife Shanti Devi (23) had gone missing from the hospital and a police complaint was filed in this regard.

“Since Shanti Devi went missing, Kripa had been taking care of the baby. He was standing outside the NICU ward when the fire broke out. After the situation was brought under control, we searched for the child but could not find him. On Saturday night, we approached senior officials who asked us to wait,” said Asha Ram, Kripa Ram’s elder brother.

He added that since Friday night, the family has been waiting outside the emergency ward, hoping for any updates about their missing baby.

“We have an unclaimed baby and a family (Kripa Ram’s) is saying that their child is missing. The details are being verified and cross-checked, and a decision will be taken after following the due process,” said District Magistrate Kumar.

On Kripa Ram’s wife going missing from the hospital days before the fire, Additional Superintendent of Police, Jhansi, Gyanendra Kumar Singh said search for her is going on.

Hospital principal Dr N.S. Sengar said the samples of the 10 deceased infants have been collected, and records of the rescued babies are being compiled. A team has been formed to prepare the records, he further said.