- By Kamal Kumar
- Sun, 17 Nov 2024 09:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Jhansi Fire News: The tragic Neonatal Intensive Care Unit fire in which 10 newborns were charred to death at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh was entirely accidental and not deliberate, the committee tasked with primary investigation found. No criminal conspiracy or negligence has been found behind the accident, due to which police have not filed a First Information Report (FIR) as yet in the matter, media reports stated quoting the sources.
The fire started at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College's NICU ward on Friday night around 10:30 PM and soon engulfed the ward, hosting over 50 newborn babies. While 10 newborns could not be saved, others were rescued in time.
The fire was caused by a short circuit in a switchboard and could not be controlled as sprinklers were not installed in the paediatrics ward, the two-member committee comprising Jhansi Commissioner Vipul Dubey and DIG Range Kalanidhi Nathani stated in its report, which was asked in 24 hours. According to an NDTV report, the sprinklers were not installed in the ward as it was for paediatric treatment and care and housed newborn babies.
At the time of the fire, six nurses, two doctors, and several members of non-medical staff were present in the ward. Out of them, one nurse suffered burn injuries in the leg trying to douse the fire, the report stated.
The fire rapidly spread and reached the oxygen concentrators even before a paramedical staff and two others went in with the fire extinguishers. However, by then the flames were so intense that they became out of control, sources told the news outlet. The fire tenders reached the college in minutes, the findings indicated.
The committee is expected to file a detailed investigation report soon.
A four-member panel, led by the Director General of Medical Education, Kinjal Singh, has been established to investigate the cause of the short circuit and whether the ward's machines were overloaded, which could indicate significant negligence.