• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:16 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Jhansi Hospital Fire: A massive fire erupted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi on Friday. The blaze has been doused. At least 10 newborn babies have died due to the blaze so far, officials said.

"Prima facie there is information of the death of 10 children," Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. According to officials, a short circuit is suspected to have caused the deadly blaze.

JHANSI HOSPITAL FIRE: 37 BABIES RESCUED

Fire brigade personnel evacuated the infants trapped inside the NICU by breaking the glass pane of the windows. The dousing operation was jointly carried out by personnel from the fire brigade and the Army. As many as 37 babies were pulled out of the fire alive.

JHANSI HOSPITAL FIRE: CM YOGI ASKS OFFICIALS TO EXPEDITE RESCUE OP

Condoling the loss of young lives in the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a post (originally in Hindi) on X: "The death of children in an accident that occurred in the NICU of the medical college located in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The district administration and concerned officials have been instructed to speed up the relief and rescue operations."

JHANSI FIRE: PROBE ORDERED, REPORT WITHIN 12 HOURS

The CM has constituted a probe panel comprising the Divisional Commissioner of Jhansi and the DIG of the police range. The committee has been ordered to submit a report into the tragic incident within 12 hours. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the health portfolio, and the principal secretary of health were on their way to Jhansi, as per an official statement.

(With inputs from Jagran Central Desk, agencies)