Fire Breaks out at Jhansi Hospital Claims Lives of 10 Newborns, 16 Children in Critical Condition

At least 10 newborns have lost their lives, and 16 more children are in a critical condition after a fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, late on Friday night. The fire erupted around 10:45 PM, said District Magistrate Avinash Kumar.

At the time of the fire, 54 children were admitted to the NICU. Emergency rescue operations were swiftly launched, and 44 newborns were safely evacuated. Seven of the ten victims have been identified, with authorities stating that DNA tests will be conducted if needed to identify the remaining three victims.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sudha Singh reported that the 16 children who sustained injuries in the fire are receiving treatment at local hospitals. “All doctors are available to care for them, and necessary medical facilities are in place,” Singh confirmed.

Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath swiftly ordered rescue operations, ensuring that fire-fighting vehicles were deployed to the scene. The government has announced financial assistance for the families of the victims—₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for each of the seriously injured children. In response to the tragedy, Chief Minister Adityanath instructed officials to submit a detailed report within 12 hours. He also announced that three separate investigations would be conducted: one by the health department, one by the police, and one through a magisterial inquiry.

"May God give strength to the bereaved parents and families to bear this cruel blow," said President Droupadi Murmu, expressing her sorrow over the loss of the newborns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences, calling the incident "heartbreaking." He further announced ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit inside an oxygen concentrator may have triggered the fire. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak confirmed this, adding that a full investigation would be carried out to determine the exact cause. "A fire safety audit was conducted in February, followed by a mock fire drill in June," said Pathak, addressing concerns about safety measures at the hospital. "Once the probe is complete, we will have more clarity on how and why this incident occurred."
The tragedy sparked chaos at the hospital this morning, as distraught parents were denied access to their injured children. Relatives, angered by the restrictions, gathered in protest outside the hospital after being prevented from staging a road blockade.​