Jhansi hospital fire: Blame game after newborn deaths, Rs 10 lakh aid announced

A blame game has erupted between the ruling BJP and the opposition after 10 newborns died.

In a massive fire that engulfed the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi. The Samajwadi Party blamed the carelessness of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College administration for the tragedy, saying a short circuit on Friday afternoon was overlooked.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level probe into the incident and sought a report by Saturday evening. The Chief Minister has also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased children and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.

The fire is said to have been caused due to a short circuit. The ward, being an oxygen-rich environment, quickly became a tinderbox, and the fire spread within seconds. Around 47 newborns were admitted to the ward at the time of the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident was heart-wrenching. “The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort to provide relief,” PM Modi tweeted.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the health portfolio, said, prima facie, the fire was triggered due to a short circuit inside the oxygen concentrator. “10 newborns have died, 7 have been identified, 3 are yet to be identified, if required DNA test will be conducted,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party said government hospitals have become a den of misery, corruption and negligence. In a swipe at the Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav asked Adityanath to leave the Maharashtra poll campaign and focus on the poor condition of health and medical facilities in the state.

The fire, which broke out in the ward around 10.30 pm on Friday, led to a stampede-like situation in the hospital. It took more than two hours to douse the blaze.

Several people could be seen climbing out of windows to save themselves as the fire spread. Visuals showed the equipment in the ward where the newborns were kept was fully charred.