November 16, 2024: In a heartbreaking tragedy, at least 10 newborns lost their lives in a massive fire at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi on Friday. The blaze, which broke out in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), has sparked outrage after it was revealed that expired fire extinguishers were found in the facility, and the fire alarms failed to go off, delaying critical evacuation efforts.

Authorities believe the fire was triggered by a short circuit in the hospital, and while the exact cause of the ignition is still under investigation, the lack of proper fire safety measures has raised serious concerns. Initial reports indicate that the fire spread quickly, and the failure of both fire extinguishers and alarms worsened the situation, preventing timely rescue operations.

Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a high-level investigation and demanded a report by Saturday evening. The state government has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each of the families of the deceased infants and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

The incident has prompted a wave of criticism from political parties and the public. The Samajwadi Party has blamed the administration’s negligence for the disaster, alleging that the short circuit that sparked the fire was ignored, despite clear signs of electrical faults in the hospital. "The carelessness of the authorities is evident. A short circuit was reported earlier in the day, but no immediate measures were taken to ensure the safety of the infants," a spokesperson for the party said.

Local authorities have begun assessing the full extent of the damage and are examining the hospital’s fire safety protocols, including why the extinguishers in the NICU were not up to date. The tragic incident has raised urgent questions about hospital safety standards and the well-being of patients, particularly the most vulnerable, in public healthcare facilities across the state.

As the investigation continues, the families of the victims are left to mourn the loss of their newborns, while calls for justice and accountability grow louder.