Fire at hospital in northern India claims the lives of 10 newborns. India Blooms
A devastating fire at a neonatal intensive care unit in northern India has claimed the lives of 10 newborn babies and left 16 others injured. The tragic incident took place late Friday night at a hospital in Jhansi, located in Uttar Pradesh state. The fire rapidly spread through the ward, where 55 infants were being cared for. While 45 babies were rescued and are now receiving treatment, the loss of life has deeply shaken the community.
Local authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, but an investigation is underway. Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, visited the hospital on Saturday to meet with the affected families. He expressed his condolences and assured them of government support. Pathak also promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and the safety measures at the hospital. "We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government stands with families during this difficult time," he said.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, the ward was already engulfed in flames, with thick plumes of smoke billowing out. Rescuers had to break windows to access the babies trapped inside. Eyewitnesses reported that the rescue efforts were delayed by approximately 30 minutes after the fire broke out, raising concerns about the hospital’s response time.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the safety measures in place at the hospital. Although fire alarms had been installed in the neonatal unit, witnesses and parents claim that they failed to activate during the fire. It was only after the staff noticed smoke and flames that they took action. Naresh Kumar, a parent who tragically lost his baby, expressed frustration over the alarm system's failure. "If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives," he said.
Another parent, Akhtar Hussain, whose son was saved and is now receiving care in an adjacent ward, echoed Kumar’s sentiment. Hussain stated that the tragedy might have been avoided if the hospital had implemented better safety protocols. "This could have been prevented if they had better safety measures in place," he said.
This devastating fire highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety in hospitals and other buildings across India. In the country, it is not uncommon for building codes and safety regulations to be overlooked, which contributes to frequent incidents like this. Poor maintenance and inadequate firefighting equipment in many areas further exacerbate the risks.
This tragedy follows another similar incident in May, when a fire at a children's hospital in New Delhi killed six newborn babies. Just three years ago, a hospital fire in Maharashtra also claimed the lives of 10 infants. These incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety standards in medical facilities across India.
As the investigation into the Jhansi fire continues, the families of the victims and the public are calling for accountability and for improvements to be made to prevent such tragedies in the future. The hospital, while continuing to treat the surviving babies, now faces scrutiny over its fire safety systems and its response to the fire.
