Jhansi Horror: UP Govt Orders Three-Tier Probe After 10 Babies Charred to Death

Lucknow: A day after a fire engulfed children's ward of a medical college in Uttar Presh's Jhansi district killing 10 newborns, state government Saturday announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to parents of each deceased and also ordered a three-tier probe into incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled deaths and announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of each deceased.

According to Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar, fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, one of largest government hospitals in state's Bundelkhand region, possibly due to an electrical short circuit.

children who were in outer part of NICU were rescued, along with some of those who were in interior part of unit.

Chief Minister Yogi ityanath expressed grief over incident.

"On CM's instructions, an assistance of Rs 5 lakh each is being provided to parents of newborns who died in incident and Rs 50,000 to family of each of injured from Chief Minister's Relief Fund," a statement from state government said.

chief minister has directed Divisional Commissioner of Jhansi and deputy inspector general of police to submit a report on incident within 12 hours, it ded.

dressing an election rally at Phulpur in Prayagraj, ityanath said fire at hospital was caused by a short circuit. "To ensure that or children were rescued, we were up all night coordinating (with officials) for relief and rescue efforts," he said while explaining why he was delayed in arriving at rally.

"My heart goes out to those who lost ir children," ityanath said.

statement from state government said that as soon as information about incident was received, ityanath sent Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak and principal health secretary to spot.

"Sixteen children are undergoing treatment in or wards of medical college. children, who were three to four days old, have been kept on a warmer," Pathak told PTI on Saturday.

He said strict action would be initiated against those found guilty.

"Instructions have been issued to launch a three-tier probe into incident. Divisional Commissioner of Jhansi and DIG have been told to investigate matter and fire department will also look into it. Along with this, instructions have also been given for a magisterial inquiry into incident," deputy chief minister said on X.

In anor post in Hindi on X, Pathak said he has spoken to family of children injured in blaze and assured m of all possible help from Uttar Presh government.

Interacting with reporters, he said efforts are on to identify newborns who were charred in blaze. "We will find out reasons behind incident and whose negligence led to it. first challenge is to give quality treatment to injured children." Principal of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, Dr Narendra Sengar, said, "Sixteen children, who did not suffer any burn injury or suffocation, but were mitted to NICU ward for treatment of diseases are being taken care of at district hospital." In early hours of Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sudha Singh told reporters that 16 injured children were being treated and efforts were underway to save ir lives.

re was also information that some parents took ir children home after fire erupted in ward, she said, ding police are trying to verify tally of children who were in NICU and ir current status.

" medical college has informed that 52 to 54 children were mitted at time of incident. While 10 of m died, 16 are undergoing treatment. Verification for ors is ongoing," police officer ded. 

(Except for heline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)