Sun Nov 17 09:05:48 UTC 2024: ## 10 Newborns Die in Jhansi Hospital Fire; Negligence Alleged
**Jhansi, India** – Ten newborn babies perished in a devastating fire that ripped through the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, late Friday night. While 39 other infants were rescued, the tragedy has left families devastated and accusing the hospital administration of negligence.
The fire, which broke out around 10:20 pm, was reportedly first noticed by a female staff member in the NICU. Attempts to extinguish the flames with available medical equipment proved futile, leading to a rapid escalation of the blaze.
Hospital staff, along with parents, frantically worked to rescue the infants. The NICU, divided into an outer unit for stable babies and an inner unit for critical cases, saw the evacuation of those in the outer unit first. However, the rapidly intensifying fire and thick smoke hampered rescue efforts in the inner unit. Some parents reportedly forced their way into the burning ward to assist with the rescue, breaking windows to help disperse the smoke. Babies were evacuated through the windows due to the crowded main exit.
Amidst the chaos, parents reported a lack of proper baby identification during the evacuation, causing further distress. Kamlesh Devi, one parent, stated that babies were rushed to the emergency ward without verifying their identities despite identification chits being attached.
College authorities quickly alerted district officials and the fire department. While the fire was extinguished within 15-20 minutes, the damage was done. All babies in the outer unit and some from the inner unit were saved, but 10 infants in the inner unit succumbed to the fire and smoke.
CCTV footage suggests the fire originated from an electrical spark in medical equipment. While authorities praise the hospital staff for their efforts, parents are vocal in their criticism, alleging negligence and inadequate fire safety training. Haris Shanker, whose baby was transferred to another ward, stated, “We have no idea how the hospital staff managed inside the ward, but the outcome shows they were not properly trained to use fire extinguishers or conduct a rescue operation.”
An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and to assess allegations of negligence. The incident has left the community mourning the loss of the newborns and questioning the safety standards at the medical college.
First Piper 