Jhansi Medical College Tragedy: A devastating incident occurred late Friday night at the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. A fire broke out in the Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) of the pediatric ward, claiming the lives of 10 newborn babies.
Rescue Efforts
Emergency responders broke doors and windows to rescue 37 children from the burning ward. Five children suffered burn injuries and are being treated in other wards of the medical college. ADG Kanpur, Alok Singh, confirmed the death of 10 children and the rescue of 37 others.
What Happened?
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire began around 10:30 PM. The ward filled with smoke, causing chaos and panic. The medical college’s fire-fighting systems failed to respond effectively. By the time fire brigades arrived, 10 children had already lost their lives.
Condition of Rescued Children Critical
According to sources, many of the rescued children are in critical condition due to burns and smoke inhalation. The death toll may rise. Attempts to contact the college principal and other officials have been unsuccessful.
Cause of the Fire Unknown
The exact cause of the fire is still unclear. Fire officials suspect a short circuit or electrical overloading as the primary cause. Some reports suggest a possible gas cylinder explosion in the ward.
Fire Alarms and Equipment Failure
The fire alarms in the medical college failed to activate during the incident. Furthermore, the fire safety equipment installed in the ward was non-functional, compounding the severity of the tragedy.
CM Yogi Expresses Grief
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Taking to social media platform X, he wrote:
“The death of children in an accident at Jhansi Medical College’s NICU is extremely saddening and heart-wrenching. District administration and concerned officials have been directed to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. Prayers to Lord Ram for peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery of the injured.”
Relief efforts are underway, and authorities are investigating the cause of the fire to prevent such tragedies in the future.
