LUCKNOW, India (AP) – A fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in northern India, killing 10 newborns and injuring 16 others, authorities said.
The fire broke out late Friday at a hospital in the city of Jhansi in India’s Uttar Pradesh state. Officials said the fire spread quickly through the hospital ward, where 55 infants were being treated. Local official Bimal Kumar Dubey said 45 infants had been rescued and were receiving treatment.
Initial investigations pointed to deficiencies in safety procedures, including expired fire extinguishers and non-functioning fire alarms, which authorities say contributed to delays in rescue efforts. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and those responsible.
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On Saturday, the state’s deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak visited the hospital and met the families. He pledged government support to the victims’ families and promised a thorough investigation.
“We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government will support the family during this difficult time,” he said.
He added that DNA tests will be carried out, after which the infant’s body will be handed over to the family.
The fire quickly spread throughout the neonatal ward. When firefighters arrived, the ward was engulfed in flames and smoke. Rescuers had to break through a window to get to the newborn baby. According to witnesses, rescue efforts began about 30 minutes after the fire broke out, which delayed evacuation efforts.
Praminder Singh Chander, a paramedic at the hospital, said firefighters rescued several newborns because the ward was on the first floor. The ward was divided into two, with one ward near the hospital entrance. The worst affected by the fire were the infants, some of whom died from severe burns.
Shocked and grieving families camped out near the hospital on Saturday, demanding answers about safety measures they believed were inadequate.
The intensive care unit had a fire alarm installed, but the alarm did not go off during the fire, parents and witnesses said. Hospital staff acted after seeing smoke and signs of fire.
Naresh Kumar, a parent who lost his baby, said: “Had the safety alerts been activated, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives.”
Akhtar Hussain, whose son was rescued and is being treated in an adjacent ward, agreed the tragedy could have been prevented if the hospital had tightened security measures.
Pathak, the state official, said the hospital’s fire protection system was last inspected in February, followed by a mock drill in June.
Fires are common in India, and building codes and safety standards are often ignored by builders and residents. Poor maintenance and lack of proper fire extinguishing equipment in the country also contributes to fatalities.
