A devastating fire at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh late Friday night claimed the lives of at least 10 newborns, with several others injured. The blaze broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which housed 54 infants at the time. Preliminary reports suggest an electrical short circuit in an oxygen concentrator may have triggered the fire, intensifying due to the oxygen-rich environment.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has announced a multi-tier investigation involving the health department, police, and a magisterial inquiry to determine the cause and accountability. Offering condolences to the bereaved families, Pathak assured stringent action against any negligence uncovered during the probe.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed swift relief measures, including financial aid of ₹5 lakh for each deceased infant’s family and₹50,000 for families of injured infants. He also emphasized providing urgent medical care to the survivors and urged local authorities to expedite rescue and relief operations.
Currently, 16 injured infants remain hospitalized, receiving critical medical attention. The tragedy has raised concerns about hospital safety protocols, and officials are under pressure to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.
