Jhansi, 16 November (IANS). On Friday, 10 newborns died in a fire in the NICU ward of ‘Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College’ in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. President Draupadi Murmu and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh have expressed grief over this.
Describing the Jhansi incident as heart-wrenching, President Draupadi Murmu wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, ‘The news of the death of several newborn babies in the accident at Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is extremely heart-wrenching. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and family members to bear this cruel blow. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured babies.
Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh described this incident as extremely sad. He wrote on ‘X’, ‘Extremely saddened to know about the death of children in the accident in the Medical College of Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh). I express my condolences to their families, and also pray to God for the speedy recovery of the children who are injured.
Describing the incident as heartbreaking, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the district administration and concerned officials to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing. He had written on ‘X’ on Friday night, ‘The death of children in an accident in the NICU of the Medical College in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. District administration and concerned officials have been instructed to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. It is a prayer to Lord Shri Ram to grant salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Brajesh Pathak announced compensation amount from the government to the families of the victims.
He wrote on ‘X’, “In the unfortunate accident of fire in the neonatal intensive care unit (SNCU ward) of Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College, Jhansi, Rs 5 lakh each will be given to the families of the deceased children and Rs 50 thousand each to the injured. It has been decided by the state government to give speedy recovery to the injured newborn babies. I and my government are with them in every situation.
Let us inform that regarding the accident, Chief Medical Superintendent Sachin Mahor said that 54 children were admitted in the NICU ward. Suddenly a fire broke out inside the oxygen concentrator. Efforts were made to extinguish the fire but since the room was highly oxygenated, the fire spread rapidly. Many children were saved. 10 children died. The injured children are undergoing treatment.
–IANS
SCH/AS
