Tragic Fire at Jhansi Hospital Kills 10 Newborns, Over 35 Rescued

Uttar Pradesh: A devastating fire broke out late on Friday night at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, claiming the lives of 10 newborn babies. The fire, which caused extensive burns and suffocation, occurred in a ward housing 49 infants, well beyond its capacity of 18 beds.

As of Saturday morning, 17 children were reported injured and receiving treatment in local hospitals, with seven being transferred to private facilities. Seven of the deceased infants have been identified, while efforts continue to identify the remaining three.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak, who visited the site, confirmed the number of fatalities and assured that medical teams were working swiftly to provide care to the injured. The state government has also announced compensation: ₹5 lakh for each deceased child's family and ₹50,000 for the injured. The treatment expenses of four children at private hospitals will be covered by the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the incident "heartbreaking" and offering support to the affected families. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a swift investigation into the cause of the fire and directed the Jhansi divisional commissioner and police to submit a report within 12 hours.

A magisterial inquiry into the incident has been initiated, and relief operations are underway. The tragedy has sparked widespread grief and calls for increased safety measures in hospital facilities.