Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 16 (HBTV): Chief Medical Superintendent Sachin Mahor announced on Saturday that the identification of three out of the ten babies who lost their lives in the fire at Jhansi's Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is still underway.

Mahor confirmed that the fire, caused by a short circuit, broke out between 10:30 and 10:45 pm. Of the 49 newborns admitted to the NICU, 39 were rescued and are in stable condition.

'There were 49 babies in the NICU. Thirty-nine were rescued, and 10 babies died. As of now, all the rescued babies are stable. The bodies of three babies are yet to be identified, and the process of identifying them is underway so that the bodies can be handed over to their parents,' Mahor told ANI.

The fire, believed to have originated from a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator, spread rapidly due to the oxygen-rich environment of the NICU, where over 50 newborns were being treated. Despite rescue efforts, the blaze engulfed the ward, leaving many families uncertain about the fate of their children.

In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief, calling the incident 'heart-wrenching.'

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, 'The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this tremendous loss. The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue.'

To support the affected families, Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia of INR 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for each deceased child. Additionally, INR 50,000 will be provided to families of the injured.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed his condolences and announced a financial aid of Rs. 5 lakh each to the parents of the deceased infants. Furthermore, INR 50,000 will be given to families of the injured from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. CM Yogi directed the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Jhansi to submit a report on the incident within 12 hours.

The tragedy has left grieving families seeking answers, as many search for their missing children amid the devastation.   

(ANI)