A devastating fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital in northern India, tragically claiming the lives of 10 newborn babies and injuring 16 others, according to authorities.
The blaze occurred late Friday night at a hospital in Jhansi, located in the Uttar Pradesh state. Officials reported that the fire rapidly spread across the ward, where 55 infants were receiving treatment. Of the 55, 45 babies were successfully rescued and are currently receiving medical care, said Bimal Kumar Dubey, a local government official.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it remains unclear what sparked the blaze. In response to the tragedy, Brajesh Pathak, the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, visited the hospital on Saturday. He met with the grieving families and assured them of government assistance, while also pledging a thorough investigation into the incident.
"We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government stands with families during this difficult time," said Brajesh Pathak, the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, following the deadly fire at a hospital in Jhansi.
The blaze erupted late Friday in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, quickly engulfing the ward in flames and smoke. Firefighters arrived to find the ward fully ablaze, and rescuers had to break through windows to reach the trapped newborn babies. Eyewitnesses reported that the rescue operation did not begin until approximately 30 minutes after the fire started, causing delays in the evacuation.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the hospital's safety protocols. While fire alarms had been installed in the NICU, both parents and witnesses claimed the alarms did not activate during the fire. Hospital staff only began responding after noticing signs of smoke and fire, further highlighting potential lapses in emergency procedures.
"If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives," said Naresh Kumar, a father who tragically lost his baby in the fire at the Jhansi hospital.
Akhtar Hussain, another parent whose son was rescued and is now receiving treatment in an adjacent ward, echoed the sentiment, stating that the tragedy could have been prevented if the hospital had more robust safety protocols in place.
Fires are unfortunately all too common in India, where building regulations and safety standards are often ignored by both builders and residents. Inadequate maintenance and the lack of proper firefighting equipment in many institutions continue to contribute to such fatal accidents.
(Source: UNB)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
