On the evening of November 17, a terrible fire broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. According to officials, 12 infants have died as a result of the fire, with the most recent death taking place on Monday, November 18. 49 neonates receiving treatment in the NICU were impacted by the fire, which started unexpectedly late Friday night. Twelve children were killed, including one who died from injuries sustained by one of the 39 children who were saved from the fire.
Unfortunately, ten newborns perished from burns or asphyxia brought on by the fire, and the NICU sustained significant damage. Many of the babies in the NICU were in serious condition. Despite the valiant attempts to save as many children as possible, the fire caused a great deal of loss, and the situation was classified as severe. Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College Principal Dr. Narendra Singh Sengar verified the information, stating that although 39 children were saved, 37 are still undergoing treatment for their wounds.
Due to the severity of their sickness, one of the children who survived the fire died on Sunday, while another, the child of Vishal and Muskan from Jalaun, passed away on Monday. Now that 12 people have died, 37 newborns are receiving critical care.
A four-member commission has been established by the Uttar Pradesh government in reaction to the tragedy to look into what caused the fire and whether negligence was a factor. The committee has been given seven days to turn in its findings. In order to assess the situation and inspect the NICU injured by the fire, the Director-General of Health and Medical Services also paid a visit to the medical college.
Serious questions have been raised by the incident regarding the safety procedures followed by medical facilities, especially in delicate areas like neonatal care. Officials have recognized the significance of addressing safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future, even if the precise cause of the fire is still being investigated. In order to protect vulnerable patients, particularly infants, the tragedy has brought attention to the necessity of strict fire safety regulations and efficient emergency response systems in healthcare facilities. Authorities are still investigating in an effort to determine what caused the devastating fire and to hold people accountable.
SOURCE :
THE PRINT
