Jhansi hospital blaze kills 10 newborns: What led to the fire?

At least 10 newborn babies died due to burns and suffocation in a devastating fire last night at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi.

The state-run medical college, which started services in 1968, is one of the largest government hospitals in the Bundelkhand region.

While 37 children were rescued from the site, authorities have ordered an investigation into the tragedy.

Here’s all we know about it.

Jhansi hospital fire

The fire erupted in the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at around 10.45 pm, District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar said, who also confirmed the casualties.

Seven children’s bodies have been identified, but three are still unknown. Efforts are being made to approach their relatives and ascertain their identities.

The hospital also experienced a stampede-like situation as a result of the fire. The fire took over two hours to extinguish.

Following their quick arrival, firefighters rescued 37 children from the hospital.

Before firefighting officials arrived on the site, doctors and medical staff were seen breaking the windows of the smoke-filled hospital to evacuate patients. Other visuals showed some burnt medical equipment within the hospital, as well as terrified patients and their carers outside.

Last night, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the deployment of sufficient firefighting vehicles and instructed top authorities and medical professionals to execute rescue efforts on a war footing.

Injured children being treated

About 37 children were rescued from the site.

16 children injured in the fire are presently being treated in the medical college’s emergency room and several private hospitals, with seven of them admitted to private facilities, according to Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak, who arrived in Jhansi on Saturday morning.

A mother who lost a child told ANI that she was unable to locate her child following the incident and was later told that the child had passed away.

Around one in the morning, the NICU rescue effort was finished.

Ex-gratia announced

For the victims’ families, CM Adityanath has promised Rs 5 lakh in financial aid. Serious injury victims will receive Rs 50,000 each.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed their grief over the fire tragedy.

“The news of the death of several newborn babies in the accident at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is extremely heartbreaking. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and families to bear this cruel blow. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured babies,” said President Murmu.

PM Modi announced Rs 50,000 for the injured and Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the relatives of the victims, calling the fire disaster “heartbreaking.”

“My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss. The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue,” the Prime Minister said.

Potential lapses

According to Pathak, the fire may have been started by a short circuit within the oxygen concentrator.

However, according to an eyewitness who spoke to India Today, the fire started when a nurse used a matchstick inside the hospital to fix an oxygen cylinder’s pipe.

“The ward, being an oxygen-rich environment, quickly became a tinderbox. Oxygen is highly inflammable, and it caused the entire ward to erupt in flames almost instantly, Bhagwan Das, a resident of Hamirpur, told the channel.

At least 54 children were admitted to the NICU, which has a capacity of only 18 beds, according to media reports.

According to initial investigation, the fire extinguisher cylinders’ filing date was 2019 and its expiration date was 2020.

The hospital’s fire alarms are said to have failed, with sources pointing to a lack of emergency system maintenance.

Pathak, who is also in charge of the health portfolio, stated that a mock fire drill was conducted in June after the hospital’s fire safety audit was completed in February.

“On how and why it happened, we can say something about it once the probe report comes,” he said.

Investigation

According to Pathak, the fire will be investigated at three different levels: by the police, the health department, and a magistrate.

“A detailed investigation has been launched to ascertain under what conditions or due to whose laxity this happened,” Sudha Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) said as quoted by news agency PTI.

“The police are making efforts to verify the number of children in the NICU and their current status,” she said.

The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Jhansi and the Divisional Commissioner have also been instructed by the Chief Minister to provide a report within 12 hours.

Opposition demands action

The Samajwadi Party blamed the tragedy to the administration’s negligence, claiming that a short circuit on Friday afternoon went unnoticed.

According to the party, government hospitals have turned into havens of misery, fraud, and negligence.

In a jab at the chief minister, party chief Akhilesh Yadav asked that CM Adityanath withdraw from the Maharashtra election campaign and concentrate on the state’s inadequate health care system.

The party has demanded action against those responsible.

With inputs from agencies