New Delhi, 17 November 2024: The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a four-member committee to probe into the fire tragedy at the children’s ward of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi that killed 10 newborns, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed that the blaze was caused by a short circuit.
At an election rally at Phulpur in Prayagraj, Adityanath said, “To ensure that other children were rescued, we were up all night coordinating (with officials) for relief and rescue efforts,” he said while explaining why he was delayed in arriving at the rally.
The Cause of the Fire: Short Circuit Suspected
Initial eyewitness accounts suggest that the fire may have originated from a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator situated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Given the oxygen-rich atmosphere of the NICU, the flames consumed the room at an alarming rate, leading to catastrophic consequences. The ongoing investigation aims to confirm this cause and gather vital evidence to prevent any future incidents.
Jhansi Hospital Fire Tragedy: Govt Orders Probe
Reacting swiftly to the tragedy, the Uttar Pradesh government has set up a four-member inquiry panel. This team includes officials from the state health department and will investigate both the cause of the fire and the hospital’s adherence to safety protocols. The committee is chaired by the Director General of Medical Education and Training, along with the Director of Health Services, an Additional Director of Electrical Services, and an officer designated by the Director General of Fire Services. They have been instructed to present their findings within a week, stressing the urgency of the investigation.
The incident has triggered a wave of public outrage, with many demanding justice for the affected families. Social media has been filled with condolences and urgent calls for accountability. Citizens are insisting that the government enforce stricter regulations regarding hospital safety and emergency preparedness, emphasizing that the lives of vulnerable newborns should never again be endangered due to negligence.
AUTOPSY OF 7 OF 10 NEWBORNS DONE
A post-mortem examination of seven infants was carried out on Saturday while the autopsy of three could not be conducted as their parents were not identified yet, Additional Superintendent of Police (City) of Jhansi Gyanendra Kumar Singh told the media.
Senior Superintendent of Police Sudha Singh told reporters on Saturday that 16 injured children were being treated and efforts were underway to save their lives.
There was also information that some parents took their children home after the fire erupted in the ward, she said, adding police were trying to verify the tally of infants who were in the NICU and their current status.
“The medical college had informed that 52 to 54 children were admitted at the time of the incident. While 10 of them died, 16 are undergoing treatment. Verification for others is ongoing,” Singh added.
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