AMN / WEB DESK
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the reported death of 10 babies due to a fire in the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi.
Taking suo-moto cognizance of a media report, the NHRC has issued notices to the State Chief Secretary and the DG Police for a detailed report within one week. The Commission said, the report should include the status of the FIR registered in the matter and action taken against the responsible officials.
It has also asked to include the status of medical treatment being provided to the injured, compensation paid to the aggrieved families and steps taken or proposed to prevent such incidents in the future.
Day after 10 newborns lost their lives in a fire that broke out in the children’s ward of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi, the Yogi Adityanath-led state government formed a four-member committee to investigate the tragic incident.
The committee has been tasked with identifying the cause of the fire and determining whether any negligence was involved. The government has also requested a report within seven days
According to police investigations, there was absence of emergency exits.
Also there were non-functional fire extinguishers and a lack of operational fire alarms and water sprinkler systems. The police also found a large number of small and big oxygen cylinders on the premises pointing to ‘illegal refilling’.
Jhansi Hospital Fire: Key Updates
- The committee formed to probe the incident will be chaired by the Director General of Medical Education and Training, with the other members being the Director (Health) of Medical Health Services, the Additional Director of Electricity of Medical Health Services, and an officer nominated by the Director General of Fire Services.
- An order issued by Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, Principal Secretary of Medical Health, has asked the committee to investigate the primary cause of the fire, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.
- The committee will also provide recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future. “The committee will submit its investigation report to the government within seven days,” the order stated.
- The fire, which broke out around 10:45 PM on Friday, claimed the lives of at least 10 children and left 16 others critically injured.
- On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was seen annoyed by some markings made on the road with lime powder before he reached Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi. He asked the district magistrate to take action against the person who got the work done.
- Pathak, along with the principal secretary of the health department, arrived in Jhansi after the deaths of at least 10 children in a fire that engulfed the children’s ward of the medical college. In a video that surfaced on social media, some workers are seen making marks on the road with lime powder. This is a practice followed during some VIP movement.