In a heartbreaking turn of events, three infants who were rescued from the devastating fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi have succumbed to illnesses during treatment. The deaths occurred within 24 hours, confirmed Dr. Narendra Sengar, the Dean of the medical college. Among the deceased was an infant who had been reunited with his mother 36 hours after the fire incident that occurred on Friday.
A total of 39 children had been rescued from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following the massive blaze, which claimed the lives of 10 children due to burn injuries. Dr. Sengar disclosed that five children who were rescued later died due to illnesses, with three of these fatalities reported in the last 24 hours.
“Their deaths were not related to burn injuries or the effects of smoke inhalation,” clarified Dr. Sengar. “The children did not sustain burns or smoke-related complications. The fatalities occurred solely due to pre-existing illnesses,” he added. Post-mortem examinations have been ordered to determine the precise causes of death.
The fire broke out at approximately 10:30 pm on Friday, engulfing the NICU in flames and resulting in a stampede-like situation within the hospital. At least 10 children lost their lives immediately, and 16 others sustained injuries. The blaze took more than two hours to extinguish, leaving the ward and its equipment completely charred.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire, according to District Magistrate Avinash Kumar. Alarming lapses in safety measures were also uncovered during the inquiry. The fire extinguisher cylinders in the hospital bore a filling date of 2019, with an expiry date of 2020. Additionally, the fire alarm failed to activate, further delaying rescue operations.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has announced compensation for the affected families. An amount of ₹5 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased children, while ₹50,000 has been allocated for those injured.
Visuals from the incident reveal the complete destruction of the NICU ward, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of fire safety protocols in healthcare institutions. The tragedy has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about the preparedness of hospitals to handle emergencies effectively.
As investigations continue, questions remain about the adequacy of safety standards at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College. The deaths of the infants who survived the fire serve as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for systemic improvements in healthcare safety measures.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)