Charred ward of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after a fire at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district (PTI Image)
The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the tragic fire incident at Maharani
Laxmibai Medical College
, Jhansi, which claimed the lives of 10 infants.
The inquiry committee will consist of the following officials: chairperson, director general, medical education & training, and its other members will be director (health), medical health services, additional director, electrical services, medical health services, and one officer nominated by the director general, fire services.
The investigation will focus on the following key points: Primary Cause of the Fire, determining the root cause of the fire; Identification of Negligence or Lapses, establishing if any negligence or faults contributed to the incident; and Recommendations for Future Prevention, suggesting measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The committee has been directed to submit its report to the state govt within seven days of the issuance of this order.
Principal Secretary (Health), Partha Sarathi Sharma, urged all concerned officials to ensure strict adherence to the investigation timeline and provide full cooperation for a comprehensive inquiry.
The investigation aims to establish accountability and propose effective safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The fire, which engulfed the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, is said to have been caused due to a short circuit. While 10 newborns died, 16 are said to be in a critical condition.
