Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on Saturday morning after the tragic fire at Jhansi’s Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, which claimed the lives of 10 newborn babies in the NICU. The Prime Minister assured that the local administration, under the Uttar Pradesh government’s guidance, is doing everything possible to provide relief and rescue.
Fire in Neonatal ICU Claims Lives
The devastating fire broke out late Friday night in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital. At least 10 newborns died due to burns and suffocation. Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak, who visited Jhansi on Saturday, stated that 49 children were in the NICU, which has only 18 beds. Seven bodies have been identified, while efforts are underway to identify the remaining three.
Prime Minister’s Heartfelt Condolences
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi expressed his deep sorrow, stating, “Heartbreaking! The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss.” He also added, “The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue.”
Uttar Pradesh Government’s Compensation
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased children, while ₹50,000 will be given to the families of the injured babies. CM Yogi Adityanath has also instructed the Divisional Commissioner and DIG of Jhansi to submit a report on the incident within 12 hours.
Cause of the Fire and Ongoing Investigation
The fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator. It spread quickly due to the highly oxygenated environment in the NICU. Investigations have been launched to determine the cause of the fire and to hold those accountable. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party accused the hospital authorities of overlooking an earlier short circuit in the machinery on Friday afternoon.
