A fire ripped through a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in northern India, killing 10 newborns and injuring 16 others, authorities said.
The fire occurred Friday evening at a hospital in the town of Jhansi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Authorities said the fire spread quickly through the ward, where 55 infants were being treated. Forty-five babies have been rescued and are receiving medical treatment, said Bimal Kumar Dubey, a local official.
It was not immediately clear what started the fire. Brajesh Pathak, deputy chief minister of the state, visited the hospital and met the families on Saturday. He pledged government support to the victims’ families and promised a thorough investigation.
“We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict measures. The government stands with families during this difficult time,” he said.
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When firefighters arrived, the department was engulfed in flames and plumes of smoke. Rescuers had to break windows to reach the newborns. Eyewitnesses said the rescue operation began about 30 minutes after the fire started, delaying evacuation efforts.
The accident raised questions about the hospital’s safety measures. While fire alarms had been installed in the intensive care unit, parents and witnesses said they did not go off during the fire. Hospital staff only took action after seeing signs of smoke and fire.
“If the security 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 avoided if the hospital had implemented better safety protocols.
Fires are common in Indiawhere building laws and safety standards are often flouted by builders and residents. Poor maintenance and lack of proper firefighting equipment in the country also leads to deaths.