Short circuit likely cause of Jhansi Hospital fire: Initial investigation – Times of India

LUCKNOW/JHANSI: An electrical short circuit emerged as a possible cause of Friday evening’s fire at the Jhansi Medical College, which claimed the lives of 10 babies, according to initial findings, even as the UP government on Saturday constituted a high-level committee to probe the tragic fire that broke out in the hospital room of the hospital. neonatal intensive care unit.
The government also issued instructions for investigations at government, police, fire brigade and magisterial levels.
Seven of the 10 babies who died were initially identified Saturday after an autopsy by a panel of four doctors. The bodies of identified deceased infants were handed over to their relatives, while DNA samples of the remaining three unidentified infants were retained for identification. Later in the day, the remaining three boys were identified with the help of hospital staff, their families were informed and the bodies were handed over to them.
Additional District Magistrate Varun Pandey clarified that the identities of all the 49 children who were in the district, barring one, have now been established. The unidentified child is still alive. Of the 49 children who were present in the department at the time of the fire, 17 are being treated in hospital. In addition, four babies have been shifted to private hospitals, another three to a district hospital, one child has returned home and six babies have left with their mothers.
A senior officer privy to the investigation said that initial investigation showed the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit, with the oxygen concentrator in the ward acting as a catalyst.
The panel, headed by the DG Medical Education and Training, has been directed to submit its report to the state government within a week. A spokesperson said UP CM Yogi Adityanath is personally monitoring the situation and the state has announced ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for families of injured children. Prime Minister Modi also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.