A tragic fire ripped through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday night, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of at least 10 infants. The devastating blaze, which broke out around 10:30 pm, quickly engulfed the ward, leaving medical staff scrambling to save the tiny patients. According to reports from the District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar, relayed by the Press Trust of India (PTI), a preliminary count indicates 10 infants perished in the flames. However, the swift response of emergency personnel managed to rescue approximately 40 other children.
Two fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene, battling the inferno to contain the blaze and evacuate the remaining infants. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, initial reports suggest a short circuit as the most likely culprit. A high-level committee has been formed to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident and determine the exact sequence of events. Chief Medical Superintendent Sachin Mahor shed further light on the situation, stating that 54 babies were present in the NICU at the time of the fire. He revealed that the fire originated near an oxygen concentrator and the high oxygen concentration in the room fuelled the rapid spread of the flames, despite immediate efforts to extinguish it.
The incident has understandably prompted widespread grief and outrage. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his profound sorrow, offering condolences to the bereaved families and issuing directives to the district administration and relevant officials to expedite both relief and rescue operations. The state’s health minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Brajesh Pathak, echoed these sentiments, announcing his immediate trip to the hospital to oversee the situation and ensuring a full-scale response from the authorities. The Indian Medical Association’s junior doctors’ network also issued a statement pledging their support for the recovery efforts and mobilizing their team in Jhansi to aid the ongoing response.
This horrific incident underscores the critical need for stringent safety protocols in healthcare facilities, particularly those caring for vulnerable infants. The investigation into the Jhansi hospital fire will not only seek to determine the precise cause but will also serve as a crucial step towards enhancing safety measures and preventing similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The long-term impact of this tragedy is expected to extend beyond the immediate loss of life; it will likely influence healthcare policies and practices nationwide.
