10 children killed, 16 injured in fire at Jhansi hospital

The fire, likely caused due to a short circuit, broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Jhansi hospital.

In Short

• Fire breaks out at children's ward of Jhansi hospital
• 37 children evacuated, rescue operations underway
• Fire likely caused due to short circuit, says official

At least 10 children lost their lives, and 16 others sustained injuries in a massive fire that broke out at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday.

The fire, likely caused due to a short circuit, led to panic and chaos, with families and patients desperately trying to escape, leading to a stampede-like situation.

Firefighters were rushed to the spot and managed to evacuate 37 children from the hospital. 54 patients were admitted to the children's ward where fire broke out.

District Magistrate Avinash Kumar suggested that a short circuit might have caused the blaze, adding that further investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the incident “heartbreaking” and directed officials to provide top-notch medical care to the injured.

Taking to X, Chief Minister Adityanath said, "The death of children in an accident that occurred in the NICU of the medical college located in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The district administration and concerned officials have been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to provide salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured."

He further instructed the Divisional Commissioner and DIG to submit a detailed report within 12 hours.

Following the Chief Minister’s orders, Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and Health Secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma travelled to Jhansi to coordinate relief operations.

Senior officials, including the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and Inspector General of Police (DIG), reached the hospital to oversee the rescue and relief efforts.

SSP Sudha Singh said that the 16 injured children are being treated and efforts are underway to save their lives. All the doctors are available for them, along with adequate medical facilities, she said.

On the cause of the incident, the SSP reiterated the DM's remarks, saying prima facie the fire appears to have been triggered by a short circuit.

"However, a detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain under what conditions or due to whose laxity this happened," Singh said as quoted by news agency PTI.

The district police chief said while 10 children died and others were either rescued or found injured, there were also inputs that some parents took their kids home after the fire erupted in the NICU.

She said the police were making efforts to verify the tally of the children who were in the NICU and their current status.

"The medical college has informed that 52 to 54 children were admitted at the time of the incident. 10 of them have died, 16 are undergoing treatment while verification for others is ongoing," Singh said.

The rescue operation in the NICU has been completed, she said around 1 am.

The state-run medical college started services in 1968 and is one of the largest government hospitals in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

(With inputs from Pramod Gautam, PTI)