• Source:JND
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Jhansi Medical College Fire:  A day after 10 children were charred to death in a tragic short-circuit fire in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Brajesh Pathak reached the facility and met the bereaved families. Terming the incident "unfortunate", he assured that a thorough inquiry would be conducted to establish the cause behind the fire.

Meanwhile, efforts were underway to identify the bodies of the newborns by the hospital administration. A health department-level probe has been ordered into the incident, and another investigation will be carried out by the administration, the Minister said.

Here are the key updates on the Jhansi Hospital Fire -

1. Dy CM Pathak said that if any lapses or negligence are found during the inquiry, strict action will be taken against the responsible.

2. "The cause of the fire will be probed...if any lapses are found, those who would be responsible, strict action will be taken against them and no one will be spared. The govt is with the family members of the children," he said while addressing the reporters at the Jhansi Medical College.

3. The Minister further said that a safety audit was conducted in February, and a fire-safety mock drill was undertaken in June.

4. Pathak further added that the state government will provide financial support to the families of the fire victims.

5. "How this incident happened and why it happened, we can only say something about it once the probe report comes...7 bodies of the newborns have been identified, 3 bodies haven't been identified yet...financial support will be provided to the families of newborns..." he said.

6. The Samajwadi Party has demanded stern action against the responsible people behind the tragic incident, calling it an outcome of the carelessness of the medical college administration.

7. Former Samajwadi Party MP Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav claimed that there was a short circuit in the afternoon, but it was also overlooked.

8."Had it been taken seriously, this incident could have been avoided. There should be strict action against people responsible for this..." he alleged.

Jhansi Medical College Fire:

A fire broke out in the NICU of Jhansi's Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College at 10:30 on Friday, where 54 newborn babies were under treatment and observation. Among the two rooms of the NICU ward, fire first engulfed the internal room, which only had one-way entry and exit, severely hampering the rescue operation and resulting in the death of 10 babies.

Around 15 children are currently under treatment, according to a Dainik Jagran report.