Late Friday, a fire struck a hospital in Jhansi city, Uttar Pradesh killing 10 newborn babies and injuring 16 others in the neonatal intensive care unit. It quickly spread through the ward, where 55 babies were being treated. Thankfully, rescuers saved 45 infants, who are now receiving care. However, the loss and injuries have devastated families.
The cause of the fire is not yet determined but authorities have launched an investigation. Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, visited the hospital on Saturday to offer condolences. He promised support to the affected families and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. “We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action,” he said.
Firefighters arrived in Jhansi to find the ward engulfed in flames and thick smoke. Rescuers broke through windows to reach the babies. Eyewitnesses reported that responders delayed by about 30 minutes. The fire caught staff off guard, leaving them with little time to act.
The incident has raised concerns about the hospital’s safety measures. Although the hospital installed fire alarms, they failed to activate during the blaze. Parents and witnesses believe that if the alarms had worked, more lives could have been saved. Naresh Kumar, a father who lost his baby, said, “If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives.”
Earlier in May, fire at Delhi Children’s Hospital Claimed lives of Six Newborns. Poor mentainance and weak safety standards have made fires common in India causing immense suffering in communities. (Courtesy of CNN)
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