At least 10 newborns died in a devastating fire that broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on the night of November 15, 2024. Sixteen other infants are currently battling for their lives in the hospital following the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
The fire started around 10:45 pm in the NICU, located in the hospital’s children’s ward. District Magistrate Avinash Kumar confirmed the deaths of 10 newborns and said that the babies in the outer section of the NICU were rescued, while most of those in the more critical interior section were saved. The medical team and fire brigade responded quickly to the emergency.
The tragedy has left many parents devastated. A mother from Mahoba, whose newborn was among the victims, was seen mourning outside the hospital, describing the heartbreaking loss of her child. “My child has been killed in the fire,” she said, visibly shaken.
Officials from the state government, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, have expressed condolences and are overseeing relief operations. Chief Minister Adityanath directed authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured and expedited the investigation into the cause of the fire. He described the incident as “extremely sad and heartbreaking.”
The fire’s origin has been traced to an electrical short circuit, although a thorough investigation is underway to determine whether negligence contributed to the tragedy. Police are also verifying the exact number of children who were in the NICU at the time of the incident.
