Tragically, ten newborn infants have perished following a blaze that tore through a neonatal intensive care unit at a medical facility in northern India.
The fire, which also inflicted injuries on 17 additional infants, rapidly spread throughout the ward at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi city late Friday, where a total of 49 babies were under care, as stated by state deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.
He indicated that seven of the deceased infants had been confirmed, and efforts were underway to identify the remaining three.
“Seventeen of the injured are currently receiving care across various wings and some private hospitals,” Mr. Pathak reported.
The precise cause of the fire remains undetermined.
“We will hold accountable those responsible for this disaster and implement strict measures. The government supports the families during this trying time,” he added.
According to witnesses, rescue attempts commenced approximately 30 minutes after the fire erupted, with the ward already fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.
Rescue personnel had to break windows to access the infants.
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Concerns have been raised regarding the hospital’s safety protocols, as parents of the affected infants and witnesses reported that fire alarms failed to activate during the incident, as reported by The Associated Press.
One parent, mourning the loss of their baby in this tragic event, told the news agency: “Had the fire alarm functioned, we could have reacted more swiftly and potentially saved more lives.”
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, conveyed his sorrow regarding the “heart-wrenching” incident.
He expressed on X: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this tragedy.
“I beseech God to provide them with the strength to endure this profound loss.”
