UP Govt Orders Three-tier Probe Into Jhansi Hospital Fire, Denies Charges Of Expired Fire Extinguishers – News18
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Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak on Saturday dismissed media reports that the medical college had expired fire extinguishers.
Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday ordered a three-tier probe into the Jhansi hospital fire incident. (Image/News18)
Amid reports of expired fire extinguishers and a faulty alarm system, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday ordered a three-tier probe into the fire incident at the children’s ward of a medical college in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district in which 10 newborns were killed. The government has also dismissed reports that the facility had expired fire extinguishers.
Post-mortem of seven infants was carried out on Saturday while the autopsy of three could not be conducted as their parents have not been identified yet, Additional Superintendent of Police (City) of Jhansi Gyanendra Kumar Singh was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
According to Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar, the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the NICU wards of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, one of the largest government hospitals in the state’s Bundelkhand region, possibly due to an electrical short circuit.
Govt Denies Expired Fire Extinguishers Report
Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak on Saturday dismissed media reports that the medical college had expired fire extinguishers. “All firefighting equipment in the medical college was completely fine,” he said in a statement.
The Deputy Chief Minister further informed that a fire safety audit was even carried out at the medical college in February and a mock drill was conducted in June.
The principal of the medical college, Dr Narendra Singh Sengar, also termed the allegations “baseless”.
UP Govt Announces Ex-Gratia Of 5 Lakh
President Droupadi Murmu termed the news of the incident “extremely heartbreaking” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased. The Uttar Pradesh government has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh.
The incident sparked a political blame game in the state where bypolls to nine Assembly seats will be held on November 20. Opposition parties blamed the BJP government in the state and said the deaths raise serious questions about the negligence of the administration.
A statement from the Uttar Pradesh government said that on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directions to expedite the rescue work, senior officials took charge of the situation on Friday night itself.
Most of the children were evacuated to safety within 15 to 20 minutes through the rescue operation, it said, adding that most of the infants were shifted to the PICU ward.
Expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased children, Chief Minister Adityanath directed the officials to provide all possible help to the victims. “Ten newborns died in the accident, while 54 were rescued,” he said.
Another statement from the state government said, “On the CM’s instructions, an assistance of Rs 5 lakh each is being provided to the parents of the newborns who died in the incident and Rs 50,000 to the family of each of the injured from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.”
The chief minister has directed the Divisional Commissioner of Jhansi and the deputy inspector general of police to submit a report on the incident within 12 hours, it added.
At an election rally at Phulpur in Prayagraj, Adityanath said the fire was caused by a short circuit. “To ensure that other children were rescued, we were up all night coordinating (with officials) for relief and rescue efforts,” he said while explaining why he was delayed in arriving at the rally.
“My heart goes out to those who lost their children,” the Chief Minister said.
The state government also said that as soon as information about the incident was received, Adityanath sent Deputy Chief Minister Pathak and the principal health secretary to the spot.
“Sixteen children are undergoing treatment in other wards of the medical college. The children, who were three to four days old, have been kept on a warmer,” Pathak told PTI on Saturday.
“Instructions have been issued to launch a three-tier probe into the incident. The Jhansi Divisional Commissioner and the DIG have been told to probe the matter and the fire department will also look into it. Along with this, instructions have also been given for a magisterial inquiry into the incident,” the deputy chief minister said on X.
Congress Attacks UP Govt
The Congress targeted the Adityanath dispensation over the incident, with Rahul Gandhi saying that such tragic incidents happening one after another in Uttar Pradesh raise many serious questions about the negligence of the government and administration.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded an investigation into the accident and strict legal action against whoever was found guilty of negligence.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the CM should leave the poll campaign and focus on improving the state’s health and medical facilities. He also demanded that Rs 1 crore should be paid to all bereaved families, adding, “Gorakhpur should not be repeated”.
(With inputs from agencies)
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