A tragic fire at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi on Friday night claimed the lives of 11 infants. Amid the devastation, Nurse Megha James became a symbol of courage, risking her own safety to rescue 14–15 babies from the blaze.
James, who sustained burns during the incident, recounted the harrowing moments. “I had gone to fetch a syringe for a child when I noticed the oxygen concentrator had caught fire. Despite the thick smoke and a power outage, we tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire spread rapidly,” she said.
Her footwear and clothing caught fire during the rescue, forcing her to remove her burning salwar before returning to save more babies. Assistant Nursing Superintendent Nalini Sood commended James, saying, “She prioritized the infants’ safety over her own and handed the babies over to others before seeking help for herself.”
Hospital staff, aided by James, broke the NICU’s glass windows to evacuate the babies, shifting survivors to nearby wards. Tragically, one newborn later succumbed to illness, raising the death toll to 11, according to District Magistrate Avinash Kumar.
Dr. Anshul Jain, head of anesthesiology, explained that evacuation protocols prioritize moving less-affected patients first to maximize lives saved, a strategy successfully implemented during the fire.
James is currently undergoing treatment for her injuries at the same hospital, hailed as a hero for her selfless bravery in the face of disaster.