Sun Nov 17 09:05:45 UTC 2024: **Jhansi Hospital Fire: Death Toll Rises, Investigation Committee Changed**
JHANSI, INDIA – A newborn rescued from Friday night’s devastating fire at the Maharani Lakshmibai Government Medical College’s Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) has died, raising the death toll to eleven. However, District Magistrate Avinash Kumar attributed the death to illness, stating the infant did not suffer burn injuries.
The fire, which broke out around 10:30 PM allegedly due to sparking in an oxygen concentrator, resulted in the deaths of ten infants. Post-mortem examinations revealed that all ten victims suffered over 80% burns. DNA samples have been collected. Seven of the eight initially missing infants have been found; one remains unaccounted for.
The initial investigation, initially assigned to Jhansi’s Divisional Commissioner Vimal Kumar Dubey, has been unexpectedly transferred to the Director General of Medical and Health, Kinjal Singh. Dubey confirmed that the committee he headed would not be submitting a report, having already recorded statements from affected families and hospital staff. The reason for the change in investigative committees remains undisclosed by the government.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak had ordered a three-tiered investigation on Saturday. The outcome of these investigations will determine responsibility for the tragedy. Further complicating matters, the fire extinguisher in the ward was found to be expired, hindering initial efforts to control the blaze. It took approximately two hours for six fire engines and the army to extinguish the fire. Thirty-nine infants were rescued from the burning ward by breaking windows.
First Piper 