In a tragic incident, a fire in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, claimed the lives of 10 newborns late on Friday night. Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar confirmed the loss. The fire reportedly originated in an oxygen concentrator within the NICU, where over 50 infants were receiving critical care.
According to those present on the spot, a loud explosion was heard in the medical college, after which there was chaos. Seeing smoke rising from the SNCU, the doctors ran to save the children, but the SNCU was completely burnt by the fire. The machines that are used to keep the newborn babies were reduced to rubble. The bodies of 10 children were taken out one by one. The staff and people rescued 39 children.
UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak arrived at the scene early Saturday, with authorities quickly mobilizing investigations into the tragic incident. In a public statement, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's office announced financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for each of the families who lost a child, with additional support of Rs 50,000 for the families of injured infants.
Expressing his condolences and criticism of the state government, opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to shift focus from election campaigning to addressing healthcare conditions in the state. Yadav demanded a higher compensation of Rs 1 crore for affected families.
Investigations Launched
Deputy Chief Minister Pathak, in his statement at the hospital, outlined a multi-tiered investigation process. He emphasized that thorough inquiries would be conducted by several authorities, including the health department, police administration, and fire safety officials. In addition, a magistrate-level inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact causes and potential lapses that contributed to the tragedy. “The reasons will be revealed to the people of the state,” Pathak stated, reassuring the public that the situation would be addressed transparently.
The Chief Medical Superintendent of Jhansi, Sachin Mahor said that an oxygen concentrator in the NICU malfunctioned, sparking a fire that spread rapidly due to the high oxygen concentration in the room.
According to Mahor, “We tried to extinguish the fire, but the room’s oxygen-rich environment caused it to spread immediately.” He confirmed that while many infants were safely evacuated, the fire ultimately led to the tragic loss of 10 newborn lives.
Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar later added that the blaze began between 10:30 and 10:45 p.m., likely due to an electrical short circuit in the NICU. He further noted that a committee, led by the Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General, would submit a comprehensive report to the Chief Minister once their investigation is complete.
Eyewitness recount scenes of panic and desperation
Eyewitnesses who were present at the hospital during the fire recounted scenes of panic and desperation as staff and families scrambled to save as many newborns as possible. One witness, who participated in the rescue efforts, described a frantic attempt to break through the NICU’s safety netting to reach trapped infants. He later reported his own child missing amid the chaos, highlighting the immense emotional toll on families.
'We took out 20 children'
Another witness Kripal Singh Rajput described a chaotic scene as he entered the NICU as the fire broke out. He said a nurse rushed in with her clothes partially aflame, alerting him to the danger.
“We took out about 20 children safely and handed them over to the staff,” he recalled, noting that several infants in critical condition were receiving oxygen at the time. Rajput expressed frustration, saying that while the cause of the fire was attributed to a short circuit, overheated machines may have played a role in the fatalities.
Another eyewitness, recounted a scene of confusion as families rushed to the emergency ward, unsure of their children’s fates. “When the fire started, there were about 50 children in the NICU,” he stated, adding that many families were uncertain about their children’s whereabouts. He called on the administration to keep families updated about the location and condition of the infants.
A man whose newborn is missing stated, "We are from Mahoba, and my wife's family lives here. The delivery took place on November 8th. The situation became more complicated because the baby was born prematurely, and now something tragic has occurred. I cannot locate my son due to the doctors' negligence. No one was allowed inside; everyone had to stay outside."
(PRAKASH KUMAR PANDEY)
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