A fire broke out late Friday in a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in Jhansi city, northern India, killing 10 newborn babies and injuring 16 others, AP News reports.
The blaze quickly spread through the ward, which was housing 55 infants, and 45 babies were rescued and are receiving treatment. Preliminary investigations revealed lapses in safety protocols, including expired fire extinguishers and non-functional fire alarms, which delayed rescue efforts. Eyewitnesses said the fire alarms didn’t activate, and rescue teams arrived about 30 minutes after the fire started.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak pledged government support for the victims’ families, a thorough investigation into the cause, and hold those responsible accountable. The hospital’s fire safety was last inspected in February, with a mock drill in June. DNA tests are being conducted to identify the deceased infants before handing them over to their families.
