Tragedy in Uttar Pradesh: hospital fire claims 10 children
On Friday evening, a fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Officials believe a short circuit caused the tragedy, which claimed the lives of ten children.
Medical staff responded swiftly, evacuating patients and smashing windows to release smoke. Before firefighters arrived, their efforts helped rescue 44 of the 54 children admitted to the NICU. However, despite their quick action, 10 children could not be saved. The state’s deputy chief minister confirmed that seven of the deceased have been identified.
In the aftermath, visuals from the site showed grieving families and burnt medical equipment in the NICU. A committee has been set up to investigate the exact cause of the fire. Officials fear the casualty count may rise as further assessments are made.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his condolences to the victims’ families and assured a thorough investigation. The government has directed hospital authorities to cooperate fully with the inquiry and ensure such incidents do not recur.
This incident has raised serious concerns over safety measures in hospitals, emphasizing the urgent need for regular inspections and improved fire-prevention systems.
