Jhansi Hospital NICU Fire Claims 10 Newborns, UP Govt Announces Compensation

A devastating fire at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, UP, claimed the lives of at least ten newborns late on Friday evening. Sixteen other children were injured in the tragedy, believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and announced compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. According to an official statement, the financial assistance will be disbursed from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Rescue operations

The fire broke out around 10:45 p.m. in the NICU, where more than 50 children lived at the time. District Magistrate Avinash Kumar reported that children in the outer part of the NICU were safely evacuated.

Divisional Commissioner Bimal Kumar Dubey confirmed that most of the 30 children in the interior had been rescued. However, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sudha Singh revealed that the number of affected children was still being verified, PTI reported. “Some parents reportedly took their children home immediately after the fire,” she added.

The government’s response

Deputy Prime Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also oversees the healthcare portfolio, reached Jhansi last night along with the state health secretary. “Strict action will be taken against those found responsible for this tragedy,” he assured, confirming that the fire was likely caused by a short circuit.

CM Yogi Adityanath is closely monitoring the situation and has directed the Divisional Commissioner and DIG Jhansi to submit a detailed report within 12 hours, PTI said.

A detailed investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire and address possible faults. The SSP confirmed: “Although the first probe indicates a short circuit, we are investigating all angles.”

All injured children receive intensive care, with doctors and medical resources deployed to ensure the best possible treatment. “Efforts are being made to rescue every child,” SSP Singh said.

The incident has cast a pall over the region, with political leaders including Jhansi MP Anurag Sharma and Sadar MLA Ravi Sharma pledging support to the affected families.