Shameful: Opposition slams VIP welcome to minister amid Jhansi hospital tragedy

Jhansi hospital fire: The Congress claimed that the entire hospital compound in Jhansi was cleaned and lime was sprinkled on the road to welcome the Deputy Chief Minister.

In Short

• 10 newborns dead in massive fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College
• Congress says compound was cleaned before Deputy Chief Minister's visit
• Calls it height of the government's insensitivity

The Congress and its allies have come down heavily on the Uttar Pradesh government after videos on social media showed elaborate arrangements being made for Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak before his arrival at the Jhansi hospital where 10 newborns died in a massive fire. In a post on X, the Congress claimed that the entire Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College compound was cleaned and lime was sprinkled on the road to welcome the Deputy Chief Minister.

The Congress, which called it the "height of the government's insensitivity", has also tweeted a video of staffers sprinkling lime on the road near the hospital.

"Look at the insensitivity of the BJP government. On one hand, children were burned to death, and their families were weeping and grieving. On the other hand, lime was being sprinkled on the roads to welcome the Deputy Chief Minister. The families even claimed that the entire compound was filthy, but it was cleaned up before the Deputy Chief Minister's visit," the Congress tweeted.

"While children are dying in fires, this government is busy polishing its image. Shameful!" the party further said.

The fire, which engulfed the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, is said to have been caused due to a short circuit. While 10 newborns died, 16 are said to be in a critical condition.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the health portfolio, said, prima facie, the fire was caused due to a short circuit inside the oxygen concentrator. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also ordered a three-tier probe into the incident.

However, expired fire extinguishers were found in the ward where the fire broke out and safety alarms also did not go off. The extinguishers were found to have expired in 2020.

The Samajwadi Party, an ally of the Congress, said government hospitals in Uttar Pradesh had become a den of misery, corruption and negligence. "There were no arrangements in the hospital to save the children... The BJP is a completely insensitive party. People are dying, but these people will never take responsibility," party spokesperson Juhie Singh said.