Jhansi Fire Tragedy: Death Toll of Newborns Rises to 11, Investigation Underway

Jhansi: A massive fire in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi claimed lives of ten newborn babies who were charred to death. In a latest update, out of 16 babies who were rescued and undergoing treatment, one more has succumbed, taking Jhansi Fire death toll to eleven.

Jhansi Fire Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 11

As mentioned earlier, death toll in Jhansi Fire Tragedy has risen from ten to eleven after one more infant undergoing treatment succumbed to his injuries. babies in medical college's NICU died after a massive fire engulfed ward; glaring lapses have come to notice including expired fire extinguishers and absence of emergency exits among or things.

NHRC Takes Suo Moto Cognisance; Seeks Report in a Week

NHRC on Saturday said it has issued a notice to Uttar Presh government and state's police chief in connection with a fire at children's ward of a medical college in Jhansi that claimed lives of 10 newborns. Describing reports of incident as "disturbing", National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report within a week. 

commission observed that contents of reports are "indeed disturbing and indicate negligence" resulting in a "grave violation" of human rights of victims as y were in care of a government institution. In a statement, NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that at least 10 newborns died in fire that broke out in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College on Friday night.

report should include status of FIR registered in matter, action taken against officials responsible, medical treatment being provided to injured and compensation, if any, paid to aggrieved families, it said. commission said it would also like to know about steps taken or proposed by authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

Jhansi Medical College Fire: Glaring Lapses Exposed

• Fire Extinguishers Expired: According to Republic, fire extinguishers used in an attempt to control fire that broke out in NICU of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in UP's Jhansi, ‘did not work’ because y were expired - an expiry date of two years ago was mentioned on extinguisher. An eyewitness also claimed that fire extinguisher did not work and fire could not be controlled, resulting in death of ten babies. fire extinguisher, which authorities claim were refilled in June and used by ward boy, bears expiry details and date mentioned on it is 24th July, 2022.
• Safety Alarms Not Working: safety alarms that should have gone off after a fire, did not go off and were dysfunctional and people could not be warned.
• Process of Evacuation Delayed: Construction was going on around concerned area and so evacuation process was delayed; fire alarms were also non-functional.
• Absence of Emergency Exits: Lack of emergency exits at medical college was anor major lapse that led to escalation of fire in hospital's NICU; since re were no emergency exits, babies were evacuated through a small window.
• Oxygen Cylinders of Poor Quality: Despite being a functional hospital and medical college, oxygen cylinders used were of extremely poor quality and did not help as much as y should have.

(Inputs from PTI)