Jhansi Medical College fire tragedy: At least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the children’s ward of a medical college in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district, officials said, while 16 others were injured fighting for survival on Saturday. THE Yogi Adityanath The government on Saturday ordered a high-level investigation, the report of which must be submitted within 24 hours. The children in the outer part of the NICU were rescued, as well as some of those in the inner part. Purported visuals from the medical school showed panicked patients and their caregivers being evacuated, even as several police personnel assisted with rescue and relief measures.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the parents of the deceased, an official said.

UP MP Brajesh Pathak, who reached the spot on Saturday morning, said, “Instructions have been given to investigate the incident… the local administration has been asked to submit the inquiry report within 24 hours 10 newborns died, 7 have been identified, 3 have yet to be identified, if necessary a DNA test will be carried out… at first glance there appears to be a short circuit inside the. oxygen concentrator… we will establish a number helpline for missing newborns… I monitor the situation myself and we are with the affected families.

District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar said the fire broke out around 10:45 p.m. on Friday in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, probably due to short- electrical circuit. Less critical patients are admitted to the outer part of the NICU while more critical patients are kept in the inner part, Kumar said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took notice of the incident and directed district administration officials to ensure proper treatment of the injured, according to a statement issued in Lucknow. “The death of children in an accident at the NICU of the medical college located in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The district administration and officials concerned have been instructed to carry out relief operations and rescue on a war footing,” he said. in Hindi on

In the early hours of Saturday, SSP Sudha Singh told reporters that the 16 injured children were being treated and efforts were on to save their lives. All doctors are at their disposal, as well as adequate medical facilities, she said. On the cause of the incident, the SSP reiterated the DM’s comments, believing prima facie that the fire appears to have been started by a short circuit.

The government medical college started its services in 1968 and is one of the largest government hospitals in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.