The state of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India, is bereaved by a tragedy. Ten newborns were killed in a fire in the neonatal unit of a hospital in Jhansi, local authorities announced on Saturday.
The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Maharani Lakshmibai University Hospital, about 450 km south of the capital New Delhi.
The other 39 babies in the department were saved
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.
“Unfortunately, ten infants died despite all our efforts,” said Dr. Narendra Sengar, director of a medical college attached to the hospital. According to him, 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.
Doctors and service staff 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.
The trail of a short circuit
According to Police Commissioner Gyanendra Kumar Singh, the fire probably started in a machine used to enrich the oxygen level in the atmosphere. According to media reports citing local officials, 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.
The state's number two, Brajesh Pathak, for his part indicated that a security audit of the hospital had been carried out in February, followed by a fire drill three months later.
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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.
The Prime Minister of Uttar Pradesh, 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 standby of war to carry out relief and rescue operations.
