|
The fire occurred late Friday at a hospital in Jhansi city in
India's Uttar Pradesh state. Officials said the blaze spread
quickly through the ward, where 55 infants were being treated.
Forty-five babies were rescued and are receiving medical care,
said Bimal Kumar Dubey, a local official.
It was not immediately clear what sparked the blaze. Brajesh
Pathak, the deputy chief minister of the state, visited the
hospital and met with families on Saturday. He pledged
government support for the victims’ families and promised a
thorough investigation.
“We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take
strict action. The government stands with families during this
difficult time,” he said.
When the firefighters arrived, the ward was engulfed in flames
and plumes of smoke. Rescuers had to break through windows to
reach the newborn babies. Eyewitnesses said the rescue operation
began about 30 minutes after the fire erupted, delaying
evacuation efforts.
The accident has raised questions over the hospital’s safety
measures. While fire alarms had been installed in the intensive
care unit, parents and witnesses said they did not activate
during the blaze. Hospital staff acted only after they saw signs
of smoke and fire.
“If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and
saved more lives,” said Naresh Kumar, a parent who lost his
baby.
Akhtar Hussain, whose son was rescued and is receiving treatment
in an adjacent ward, agreed that the tragedy could have been
prevented if the hospital had better safety protocols.
Fires are common in India, where building laws and safety norms
are often flouted by builders and residents. Poor maintenance
and lack of proper firefighting equipment in the country also
leads to deaths.
All contents © copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
