A fire at a hospital in Jhansi claimed the lives of 10 newborns and injured at least 16 others, sparking concerns about the safety protocols in place at the facility.

A devastating fire at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, has tragically claimed the lives of 10 newborn babies and left at least 16 other children injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt condolences following the incident, posting on X, "My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss."

Local authorities reported that the fire erupted at the NICU of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi around 10:45 pm local time (0515 GMT) on Friday. At the time of the blaze, 55 infants were being treated in the ward. Forty-five of the babies were successfully rescued and are currently receiving medical care. Bimal Kumar Dubey, a local official, stated that the fire spread rapidly through the ward, making rescue efforts difficult.

Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Brajesh Pathak, confirmed that the fire was caused by an electrical short-circuit in an oxygen concentrator. "Seven bodies have been identified. Three bodies haven't been identified as yet," Pathak said, adding that an investigation is underway. "We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government stands with families during this difficult time," he assured.

Witnesses told the Associated Press that rescue operations only began approximately 30 minutes after the fire started. They reported that the hospital's fire alarms were not operational, and hospital staff only began responding when they saw smoke and flames. This has raised serious concerns about the hospital's safety protocols and preparedness. One parent, Naresh Kumar, who lost his child, expressed frustration, saying, "If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives."

In response to the tragedy, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of ₹500,000 (approximately $5,900 or €5,595) to the families of the victims.

Fires in India are unfortunately common, often attributed to poor construction practices, inadequate enforcement of safety regulations, and subpar maintenance. The lack of effective firefighting equipment also contributes to the high frequency of fires. A similar incident at a hospital in Delhi six months ago resulted in the deaths of seven newborn babies.