Indus Valley Times

LUCKNOW/JHANSI, NOV 16 : Hours after a fire claimed the lives of at least 10 newborn children in Jhansi district, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the parents of the deceased, an official said.

A statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed deep grief over the incident that took place in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College.

“On the instructions of the chief minister, an assistance of Rs 5 lakh each is being provided to the parents of the newborn babies, who died untimely in the incident, and Rs 50,000 each to the family members of the injured from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund,” the statement said.

The chief minister kept getting information from the spot every moment throughout the night. He also kept an eye on the TV, the statement said.

As soon as the information about the incident was received late Friday night, the chief minister sent Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and Principal Health Secretary to the spot overnight, the statement added.

The chief minister has directed the Divisional Commissioner and DIG of Jhansi to submit a report regarding the incident within 12 hours, the statement added.

District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the NICU of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College possibly due to an electrical short circuit. The children, who were in the outer part of the NICU, were rescued along with some of those who were in the interior part.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak told PTI on Saturday,

“As many as 10 newborn children have died in the incident.16 children are undergoing treatment in other wards of the Jhansi Medical College. The children, who were three to four days old have been kept on a warmer.”

He assured that strict action would be initiated against those found guilty.

A grieving family member talks to the media after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district, early Saturday.

A grieving family member talks to the media after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district, early Saturday.(Photo | PTI)

In the early hours of Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sudha Singh told reporters that efforts are underway to save the lives of the 16 injured children. All the doctors are available for them along with adequate medical facilities, she added.

There were also inputs that some parents took their kids home after the fire erupted in the NICU, she added.

The SSP 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,” she added.

The rescue operation in the NICU was complete, 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.

PM Modi condoles loss of lives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the death of children and said the local administration under the state government’s supervision is making every possible effort for relief and rescue.

“Heartbreaking! The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss,” Modi was quoted as saying in a post in Hindi on X by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue,” he said.

“Prima facie there is information of the death of 10 children,” the DM said.

Those less critical are admitted in the outer section of the NICU while the more critical patients are kept in the interior part, Kumar said.

-PTI