Ten newborns were killed in a fire, attributed to a faulty device, in the neonatal unit of a hospital in Jhansi, in northern India, local authorities announced on Saturday.
The fire broke out at around 10:30 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Friday at the Maharani Lakshmibai University Hospital in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh state, 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”Doctor Narendra Sengar, director of a medical faculty attached to the hospital, told AFP.
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 are unharmed”he said.
Doctors and ward staff rushed to the babies’ aid “without worrying about their own lives”was sued by Narendra Sengar. “Thanks to them, we were able to save 39 babies. They are real heroes”he added.
“All rescued children are safe and receiving medical care”confirmed police commissioner Gyanendra Kumar Singh to AFP.
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.
A district official, Avinash Kumar, said the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the unit.
Promised compensation
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 breaches are noted, strict measures will be taken against those responsible and no one will be spared”.
These deaths are “heartbreaking”, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared 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 (5,620 euros) and that all district officials had “received orders to be on war footing to carry out relief and rescue operations”.
“I pray to Lord Shri Ram to bring salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured”he wrote on X, referring to Ram, one of the most important Hindu gods, also called Rama.
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.
