Jhansi : A catastrophic fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the tragic deaths of 10 newborns. Investigations have revealed that expired fire extinguishers and malfunctioning safety alarms contributed to the delay in evacuation, exacerbating the disaster.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level probe into the incident, seeking a detailed report by Saturday evening. In response to the tragedy, the Chief Minister has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the fire.
The fire is believed to have been triggered by a short circuit, with the Samajwadi Party criticizing the administration for its negligence. The party claims that the short circuit, which occurred earlier in the day, was ignored, leading to the fatal blaze.
Jhansi Hospital Fire: Latest Developments
- Expired Fire Extinguishers Found: Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire extinguishers in the NICU were expired, with the filling date marked as 2019 and expiry in 2020.
- Fire Alarm Failure: The hospital’s fire alarm system did not go off during the blaze, delaying evacuation efforts.
- Prime Minister’s Response: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and announced an additional Rs 2 lakh compensation per deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, on top of the state government’s aid.
- Cause of the Fire: Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, responsible for health, stated the fire likely started due to a short circuit in the oxygen concentrator. However, an eyewitness claimed the fire began when a nurse used a matchstick to fix the oxygen cylinder pipe.
- Opposition Criticism: The Samajwadi Party blamed the state government for neglecting public hospitals, accusing it of corruption and mismanagement. Akhilesh Yadav criticized Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for focusing on Maharashtra elections instead of improving Uttar Pradesh’s healthcare system.
- Stampede and Fire Containment: The fire broke out around 10:30 PM, leading to a stampede-like situation in the hospital. It took over two hours to extinguish the blaze, with visuals showing extensive damage to the equipment in the NICU.