In brief
A tragic fire at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College Hospital in the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh has left at least 10 newborns dead. This heartbreaking incident unfolded late Friday night in the neonatal ward, where chaos broke out as the flames raged. Distraught parents desperately attempted to save their children, with many even breaking windows to access the ward. Witnesses described a scene of pandemonium, where parents “grabbed any child they could” in the midst of the life-threatening blaze.
Local authorities reported that staff successfully rescued 44 infants, although several remain in critical condition. Shockingly, three of the deceased babies have yet to be identified, leaving certain families in anguish over their children’s fates. Santoshi, a new mother seeking her missing 10-day-old baby, expressed her sorrow: "When the fire broke out, I couldn't go inside to rescue my baby. How could I?"The fire, which was sparked due to an electrical malfunction, erupted near 10:30 PM local time. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the inferno began in the intensive care unit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, labeling the loss “heart-wrenching.” State officials have pledged compensation of 500,000 rupees to the affected families. Despite prior safety inspections, including a review and fire drill earlier this year, this incident highlights ongoing concerns over hospital safety standards. This tragic event marks India’s second notable hospital fire incident in recent months, following a separate fire in May that resulted in the deaths of six infants in Delhi. As mourning families grapple with their loss, calls for improved safety measures in medical facilities have intensified across the nation.
