Sat Nov 16 09:57:10 UTC 2024: ## 10 Infants Dead, 16 Critical After Devastating Fire at Jhansi Hospital
**Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India –** A horrific fire ripped through a newborn ward at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi late Thursday night, claiming the lives of at least 10 infants and leaving 16 others critically injured. The blaze, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, engulfed the ward housing 54 infants.
Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as frantic parents watched helplessly as firefighters battled the inferno. Witnesses described chaotic scenes of parents desperately trying to rescue their children, passing infants out of windows to waiting crowds. One mother, Bhagwati, recounted her harrowing experience, rushing into the burning ward to save her own baby.
While 44 infants were rescued, the tragedy has left a community reeling. Seven of the deceased have been identified, and distraught parents protested outside the hospital, alleging they were being prevented from seeing their injured children. Officials reportedly cited identity concerns as the reason for restricting access.
The incident has sparked a political firestorm, with opposition parties – the Samajwadi Party and the Congress – accusing the state government of negligence. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to suspend election campaigning and address the state’s healthcare crisis. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed calls for strict action against those responsible.
Chief Minister Adityanath expressed condolences and announced financial assistance for both the victims’ families and the injured. The central government also pledged aid. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with a focus on whether safety regulations were adequately followed at the hospital.
First Piper 