The fire broke out on Friday evening at the Maharani Lakshmibai University Hospital in Jhansi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, about 450 km south of the capital New Delhi. Video images broadcast by televisions showed charred beds and walls inside the ward, and crowds of distressed families waiting outside the facility. The nursing staff placed IVs on the rescued babies, all only a few days old, lying side by side on another hospital bed.
“My child is gone forever,” said the mother of one of the victims, her head in her hands. “Unfortunately, ten infants died despite all our efforts,” said Dr. Narendra Sengar, director of a medical college attached to the hospital.
According to the director, the other 39 babies in the ward were saved and are in good health, contrary to media reports that 16 of them were seriously injured. “Post-mortem examinations of the babies are underway. The 39 infants who were rescued were unhurt,” he said. Doctors and service personnel rushed to the babies’ aid “without worrying about their own lives,” continued Narendra Sengar. “Thanks to them, we were able to save 39 babies. They are true heroes,” he added.
“All the rescued children are safe and receiving medical treatment,” confirmed Police Commissioner Gyanendra Kumar Singh. He said the fire probably started in a machine used to enrich the level of oxygen in the atmosphere. Media reports citing local officials said the high concentration of combustible gas allowed the fire to spread quickly and suddenly.
According to the state’s number two, Brajesh Pathak, a security audit of the hospital was carried out in February, followed by a fire drill three months later. “The cause of the fire will be investigated,” he added. “If any violations are found, strict action will be taken against those responsible and no one will be spared.”
These deaths are “heartbreaking,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X. “My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this matter. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the affected families will receive compensation of 500,000 rupees (5,260 Swiss francs) and that all district officials had “been ordered to be on the war footing to carry out relief and rescue operations.
Fires are common in India due to poor construction practices, overcrowding and lack of compliance with safety regulations. At the end of May, six babies were killed in a fire that ravaged a children’s hospital in New Delhi.
