Jhansi, 16 November (IANS). 10 children died due to burns in an accident that took place late Friday night at Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
District Officer Avinash Kumar said that the fire broke out in the inner unit of the NICU (infant ward) of the college between 10.30 and 10.45 pm. The indoor unit contained more seriously ill children while the outdoor unit contained less seriously ill children.
He said that according to preliminary information, 10 children have died. The employees present in the ward at that time say that the fire broke out due to short circuit.
The District Magistrate said that all the children from the outside unit have been saved. Some children from the inner unit have also been rescued.
So far, there is information that 40 children have been saved.
Jhansi Division Commissioner Bimal Kumar Dubey said that at the time of the incident, 54-55 children were admitted in the ward. The injured children are undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Jhansi Division DIG Kalanidhi Naithani said that the fire has been brought under control.
Six fire brigade vehicles have reached the spot and a police team is present. The cause of the fire has not been known.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased children. He has instructed the district administration officials to immediately take the injured to the hospital and provide them with proper treatment. Along with this, he also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
He has formed an investigation team under the leadership of the Commissioner and DIG and has sought the report within 12 hours.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Principal Secretary of the Health Department have left for the spot.
Brajesh Pathak wrote in a post on Instructions have been given to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. I myself am reaching the accident site. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the injured and speedy recovery.
–IANS
AKJ/
