A fire in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College late Friday night resulted in the deaths of 10 newborns and left 16 others injured. The fire, which reportedly started due to an electrical short circuit, caused significant damage before being brought under control.

The Uttar Pradesh government announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and ordered an investigation into the incident, directing the Divisional Commissioner and DIG to submit a report within 12 hours. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and the Principal Secretary of Health were dispatched to the site to oversee rescue and relief efforts.

Children in the outer section of the NICU were rescued, while those in the interior were either injured or succumbed to the fire. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sudha Singh confirmed that 16 injured children are receiving treatment, with all necessary medical facilities in place. Efforts are ongoing to verify the status of all 52–54 children reported to have been in the NICU at the time of the fire.

The Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, a state-run facility established in 1968, is one of the largest hospitals in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have assured strict action against those found responsible for the tragedy. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause and lapses, if any.

Source: PTI

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