Hospital fire kills 10 newborn babies, 16 kids injured in UP's Jhansi

At least 10 newborns died as a massive fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of the state-run Maharani Laxmibai Medical College Hospital, Jhansi, late Friday.

"As per the staff present in the ward, the fire broke out around 10.35 pm. Thirty-seven children have been safely rescued. The fire broke out in one of the two units of the children's ward possibly due to a short circuit. The children who were in the outer part of the NICU were rescued, along with some of those who were in the interior part. We have formed a committee to probe the cause of the fire. While most of the children were rescued, as per initial information, 10 children were killed in the accident," said Avinash Kumar, district magistrate of Jhansi. Six fire engines are present at the spot, he added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the incident “heartbreaking” and directed officials to provide top-notch medical care to the injured.

Taking to X, Chief Minister Adityanath said, "The death of children in an accident that occurred in the NICU of the medical college located in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The district administration and concerned officials have been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to provide salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured."