Sat Nov 16 19:18:57 UTC 2024: ## Hospital Fire Kills 10 Newborns in India
**Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India** – At least 10 newborns perished in a devastating fire that ripped through the neonatal ward of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College Hospital in Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday night. The blaze, which reportedly started around 10:30 PM local time (5:00 PM GMT), resulted in chaos and panic as parents desperately attempted to rescue their children.
While hospital staff managed to evacuate 44 infants, at least 16 remain in critical condition. The tragic incident has left three of the deceased babies unidentified, adding to the anguish of parents still searching for their children. One mother, Santoshi, recounted her desperate attempts to reach her 10-day-old baby during the fire, highlighting the scene of utter confusion and despair.
Initial investigations suggest an electrical fault, possibly a short circuit in an oxygen-supplying machine, as the cause of the fire. Pictures from the scene depict distraught parents outside the hospital, grappling with the immense loss.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deepest condolences, calling the deaths “heart-wrenching” and offering prayers for the grieving families. The Uttar Pradesh state government has announced compensation of 500,000 rupees (£4,600; $5,900) for each bereaved family. Despite a safety review in February and a fire drill in June, this tragedy marks the second major hospital fire in India in six months resulting in the deaths of newborns. A similar incident in May claimed the lives of six babies at a private neonatal facility in Delhi. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident.
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