Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 16 (HBTV): At least 10 infants were killed after a massive fire broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh late Friday evening, officials said.

According to hospital officials, 54 infants were admitted to the NICU ward, and several trapped infants have been rescued. Efforts to extinguish the fire and carry out rescues are ongoing, they added.

'There were 54 babies admitted to the NICU ward. Suddenly, a fire broke out inside the oxygen concentrator. Efforts were made to douse the fire, but since the room was highly oxygenated, the fire spread quickly. Many babies were rescued. Ten babies have died, and injured babies are undergoing treatment,' said Sachin Mahor, Chief Medical Superintendent at Jhansi Medical College.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the incident and directed the district administration to expedite relief efforts.

In a post on X, CM Yogi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased infants. 'The death of children in an accident that occurred in the NICU of the medical college in Jhansi district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. The district administration and concerned officials have been instructed to speed up the relief and rescue operations,' he stated.   

(ANI)