Jhansi hospital fire kills 10 newborns, chaos erupts as parents protest to meet survivors

A massive fire broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a medical college in Jhansi on Friday night, killing 10 children. District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

An electrical short circuit inside the oxygen concentrator is being cited as the likely cause of the fire. “Prima facie there is information of the death of 10 children,” the DM said. Officials say the number of dead is likely to go up.

Seven of the 10 victims have been identified, as per an official. DNA testing will be done to identify the rest if needed.

Officials said that at least 54 children were in the NICU at the time of the incident. Those who were in the outer area of the NICU were rescued, and some from the inner area were also saved. A total of 44 children are reported to have been rescued. Sixteen of those injured are reportedly in critical condition. Kumar said the more critical patients are admitted to the inner section of the NICU.

According to Divisional Commissioner Jhansi Bimal Kumar Dubey, around 30 children were in the interior section of the NICU and most of them were rescued.

On Saturday morning, parents of the surviving children gathered outside the hospital, demanding to meet them. Angry relatives are camping at the hospital after they were stopped from seeing the children. They earlier tried blocking the road were stopped.

As per reports, parents are being allowed to meet their children to avoid any confusion over the identities of the infants.

Systems weren't maintained properly: Reports

Reports quoting sources allege that fire alarms at the hospital did not go off, with accusations that emergency systems weren't serviced and maintained.

A fire brigade was immediately sent to battle the blaze, with senior officers of the district also reaching the medical college at night.

Unverified videos of the incident on social media showed patients and their caretakers being evacuated, with police personnel helping with rescue and relief measures.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials of the district administration to ensure proper treatment to the injured. He issued a statement on the matter.

“The death of children in an accident that took place 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 conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing,” he posted in Hindi on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modihas announced Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the victims' families and Rs 50,000 for the injured.