Parents recount the horrors of the Jhansi hospital fire that killed ten children | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Parents and relatives of newborns have described scenes of chaos and despair during the NICU fire at Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, that killed 10 babies. Many broke windows to enter the unit and grabbed every child they could in a frantic effort to save lives, the parents said.
Late Friday night, the fire engulfed the neonatal intensive care unit, which housed more than 50 newborns. As flames consumed the ward, parents scrambled to save their children amid conflicting instructions and a lack of clear communication from hospital authorities.
For Rani Sen, an aunt of one of the affected children, the ordeal remains shrouded in confusion. “They told us to go inside and take our children with us, but by then many had died,” she told news agency ANI. She questioned the hospital’s identification process and demanded DNA tests to confirm her baby’s fate. ‘If the cards are burned or lost, how can they tell which child is mine? “I found a baby that wasn’t mine and had him taken in under my name,” she said.
Another mother, Santoshi from Mahoba district, described the helplessness she felt during the incident. “I don’t know where my baby is. The fire broke out and I couldn’t get in to save him. Nobody could. Everyone ran away in panic,” she told ANI, adding that the hospital had earlier denied her access to her child.
A grieving grandmother told how parents broke windows in a frantic attempt to save the babies. “The nurses were pushing people out, but those who managed to get in grabbed every child they could,” she said.
Investigation underway
The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a multi-level investigation to determine the cause of the fire. District Magistrate Avinash Kumar stated that short circuit is the likely cause, although further investigations are ongoing.
Deputy Prime Minister Brajesh Pathak assured strict action against those responsible and promised justice for the grieving families. “This is a tragic and unfortunate incident. We are conducting administrative, police and magisterial investigations to identify any errors,” he said.
CM announces compensation of Rs 5 lakh
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. He directed officials to expedite relief and rescue efforts, stressing the need for proper treatment of the injured babies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “heartbreaking” and expressed his condolences, saying, “My deepest condolences go out to the families. May they find strength in this difficult time.”