The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday formed a committee to investigate the incident of fire in the children’s ward of a medical college in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh. A high-powered inquiry committee of the UP Health Department has been formed. It will be made up of 4 members under the presidency of the DG Medical Education. Regarding the incident, the officers appointed by the Director Medical and Health, Additional Director Electrical Medical Health Services, DG Fire will also conduct a member inquiry and submit a detailed investigation report of the case to the government in the coming 7 days.
In fact, a fire broke out in the NICU ward of Maharani Lakshmi Bai Medical College, one of the largest government hospitals of Bundelkhand region located in Jhansi, around 10.45 pm on Friday night. The initial cause is believed to be an electrical short circuit. In this incident, 10 newborn children were burned to death. Many children are also said to be injured. The Medical College said that at the time of the accident, between 52 and 54 children were admitted to the NICU, of whom 10 died and 16 are under treatment.
Jhansi Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Gyanendra Kumar Singh told PTI that post-mortem of seven babies was conducted on Saturday, while post-mortem of three could not be carried out as their parents are yet to be identified. The government also rejected reports that the hospital’s fire extinguishers had expired.
Government rejects issue of expired fire extinguishers
Deputy Chief Minister Brijesh Pathak rejected media reports that the fire extinguishers at the medical college had expired. “All firefighting equipment at the medical school was completely fine,” he said in a statement. He said a fire safety audit was conducted at the medical school in February and a fire drill was held in June. Medical College principal Dr Narendra Singh Sengar also termed the allegations baseless.
UP govt to provide assistance of Rs 5 lakh
The UP Yogi government has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured. Prime Minister Modi has also announced compensation for each person who died in the Jhansi Medical fire. University An ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh has been announced from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the family members of the deceased and Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured.
