Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has ordered a three-tier investigation into the fire incident. During his visit on Saturday morning, the Deputy CM stated that three teams would probe the matter, and a report is to be submitted within seven days.
The fire broke out in the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, on Friday night, injuring ten newborns. All ten infants have now been identified: four from Jhansi, three from Lalitpur, two from Hamirpur, and one from Jalaun. However, six infants remain unaccounted for.
At the medical college, 16 children are currently under treatment, with four in critical condition. One child has been discharged. Additionally, 22 children are being treated in other hospitals in Jhansi, including eight in critical condition. At the time of the fire, the SNCU had 55 newborns admitted. The fire, reportedly caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator, broke out around 10:45 PM on Friday, leading to chaos in the unit.
Deputy CM Orders Three-Tier Investigation
Deputy CM and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak, during his Saturday visit, directed all necessary assistance for the victims. He announced a three-tier investigation involving:
- Health Department (at the administrative level)
- Police and Fire Brigade teams
- Magisterial probe
The primary focus of the investigation is to ascertain the cause of the fire. Strict action will be taken if negligence is identified, and the report is expected within seven days.
Commissioner Begins Inquiry; Staff Statements Recorded
Divisional Commissioner Bimal Kumar Dubey has started the investigation into the fire incident. Statements of nine on-duty doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff have been recorded. The Commissioner will submit a report to the state government, which will then determine the next steps.
Victims Include Twins from Hamirpur
The tragedy claimed the lives of Pooja, Sanjana, and Bhagwati’s sons from Lalitpur, Najma’s twin daughters from Hamirpur, and Poonam’s daughter and Sandhya’s son from Jhansi.
Infants Still Unaccounted For
The whereabouts of the newborns belonging to Sandhya Kanchan (Erich, Jhansi), Kavita (Bangra), and Nancy (Rajgarh) are still unknown. Similarly, Sanjana (Phulwara, Lalitpur), Santoshi (Pachnadev, Jalaun), and Sukhwati (Rigwara, Hamirpur) await updates about their missing infants.
Helpline Number Released
The district administration has released a helpline number (6389831357) for families seeking information about their newborns.
Compensation Announced
The state and central governments have announced compensation for the victims’ families. Families of the deceased will receive ₹7 lakh (₹5 lakh from the state government and ₹2 lakh from the central government), while injured infants will receive ₹50,000 from the state government.
PM Modi Expresses Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident. He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
DNA Testing for Identification
In cases where identification of the deceased infants is not possible, DNA testing will be conducted before handing over the remains to their families.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the families of the victims. For unidentified infants, DNA tests will ensure proper identification before they are handed over to their parents. A total of 49 newborns were admitted to the SNCU.”
– Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister
+ There are no comments
Add yours