A devastating fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, claimed the lives of 10 newborns and left 16 children fighting for their lives. The fire, which broke out around 10:45 pm on Friday, November 15, was caused by a short circuit in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Following the incident, it was revealed that expired fire extinguishers and a faulty alarm system contributed to significant safety lapses at the hospital. Families of the victims claimed that if the fire extinguishers had been functional, the lives of the newborns might have been saved.
Sources reported that the fire safety alarms failed to activate during the blaze, further delaying the evacuation efforts at the hospital. The NICU had 18 beds, most of which were occupied by six children each. Kripal Singh Rajput, a visitor at the hospital, rescued 25 newborns during the fire, including his grandson.
Panic-stricken patients and caregivers were seen in distress as police and rescue teams worked to assist in the evacuation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed that the fire was caused by a short circuit and announced that 10 children had died, while the others were safe.
Sixteen injured children are receiving treatment at a local hospital, with medical staff and resources being mobilized to ensure their care. In response, Chief Minister Adityanath ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and announced financial compensation: Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also visited the hospital, vowed that action would be taken against those found responsible for negligence.
