UP hospital fire: Cong demands probe, strict action against those guilty of negligence

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday condoled the death of children in a fire at a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district and demanded a probe into the matter as well as strict legal action against those guilty of negligence.

At least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the children's ward of the medical college in Jhansi, officials said, as 16 injured children battled for life on Saturday.

District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College possibly due to an electrical short circuit.

In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, "The news of the death of innocent children in the accident that took place at the medical college in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. Our deepest condolences to the families of all the children who died in this heartbreaking accident. May god give their families the strength to bear this sorrow." "We demand from the government that the causes of this accident be investigated and strict legal action should be taken against whoever is guilty of such negligence," he said.

उत्तर प्रदेश के झाँसी के मेडिकल कॉलेज में हुए हादसे में मासूम शिशुओं की मृत्यु का समाचार बेहद पीड़ादायक है। इस हृदयविदारक हादसे में मृत सभी बच्चों के परिजनों के प्रति हमारी गहरी संवेदनाएँ। ईश्वर उनके परिवारों को ये दुःख सहन करने की शक्ति प्रदान करे।

हम सरकार से माँग करते है कि…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) November 16, 2024

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the shocking news has come from Jhansi's Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, where 10 children have died due to a fire in the intensive care unit for newborns.

"Words of grief and condolence are futile in this time of great tragedy. We stand with the families and parents in this difficult situation," she said in her post in Hindi on X.

झाँसी के महारानी लक्ष्मीबाई मेडिकल कॉलेज से दहला देने वाली ख़बर आई है, जहाँ नवजात शिशुओं के सघन चिकित्सा कक्ष में आग लग जाने की वजह से दस बच्चों की मौत हो गई है।

शोक और सांत्वना के शब्द इस महाविपत्ति के समय व्यर्थ हैं। हमलोग इस मुश्किल परिस्थिति में परिजनों और अभिभावकों के साथ…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 16, 2024