Jhansi, November 16 . 10 children died in a fire accident that took place late Friday night at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
District Officer Avinash Kumar said that the fire broke out in the inside unit of the NICU (infant ward) of the college between 10.30 and 10.45 pm. There were more seriously ill children in the inside unit while there were less seriously ill children in the outside unit.
He said that according to preliminary information, 10 children have died. The staff present in the ward at that time said that the fire was caused by a short circuit.
The District Magistrate said that all the children of the outside unit have been rescued. Some children of the inside unit have also been rescued.
So far 40 children have been reported to be rescued.
Jhansi division commissioner Bimal Kumar Dubey said that at the time of the incident, 54-55 children were admitted in the ward. The injured children are being treated in the hospital.
Jhansi division DIG Kalanidhi Naithani said that the fire has been brought under control.
Six fire brigade vehicles have reached the spot and a police team is present. The cause of the fire has not been ascertained.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased children. He has instructed the district administration officials to immediately take the injured to the hospital and provide them proper treatment. Along with this, he has also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
He has constituted an investigation team under the leadership of the Commissioner and DIG and has sought a report within 12 hours.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Principal Secretary of the Health Department have left for the spot.
Brajesh Pathak wrote in a post on Instagram, “The death of many newborn babies in the unfortunate fire accident in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (SNCU Ward) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi today is extremely sad and heartbreaking. I have instructed the district administration and the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. I myself am reaching the accident site. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured.”
