Family members wait outside the emergency ward after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. At least 10 children died in the fire that engulfed the children's ward of the medical college, officials said, as 16 others injured battled for life on Saturday.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday condoled the death of children in a fire at a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district and demanded a probe into the matter as well as strict legal action against those guilty of negligence.
Hitting out at the Yogi Adityanath government, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said such tragic incidents happening one after another in Uttar Pradesh raise many serious questions about the negligence of the government and administration.
At least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the children's ward of the medical college in Jhansi, officials said, as 16 injured children battled for life on Saturday.
District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College possibly due to an electrical short circuit.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The news of the death of innocent children in the accident that took place at the medical college in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. Our deepest condolences to the families of all the children who died in this heartbreaking accident. May god give their families the strength to bear this sorrow."
"We demand from the government that the causes of this accident be investigated and strict legal action should be taken against whoever is guilty of such negligence," he said.
Rahul Gandhi also condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident.
In a post in Hindi on X, he said, "I am deeply saddened by the news of the death and injury of several newborn children in the tragic accident at Jhansi Medical College. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families." "Such tragic incidents happening one after another in Uttar Pradesh raise many serious questions about the negligence of the government and administration," he said.
"The government should ensure that the injured children get the best possible treatment. Also, this tragic incident should be investigated immediately and strict legal action should be taken against the culprits," Gandhi added.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the shocking news has come from Jhansi's Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, where 10 children have died due to a fire in the intensive care unit for newborns.
"Words of grief and condolence are futile in this time of great tragedy. We stand with the families and parents in this difficult situation," she said in her post in Hindi on X.