"Very sad incident which cannot even be imagined": Brij Bhushan on Jhansi fire incident

"This is very sad. The Chief Minister has ordered an investigation. It remains to be seen what the investigation reveals, but this is a very sad incident which cannot even be imagined," Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said.

Jhansi District Magistrate Avinash Kumar stated that seven bodies have been identified and handed over to their relatives.

"The investigation to identify three others is still underway, and we are clarifying the situation regarding one child. We are in discussions with their relatives, and weight and measurements are being checked. Among the other children admitted, three are in serious condition. Prima facie, the situation seems to have arisen due to an electric short circuit," Kumar said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief, describing the incident as "heart-wrenching" in a post on X.

"The fire at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families who have lost their innocent children. I pray to God to give them the strength to endure this immense loss. The local administration, under the state government's supervision, is making every effort to provide relief and conduct rescue operations," said PM Modi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced financial assistance of Rs5 lakh for the families of the deceased newborns.

CM Adityanath also directed the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Jhansi to submit a report on the incident within 12 hours.

The tragedy has left grieving families shattered, with many still searching for their missing children.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report stating that at least 10 newborn babies lost their lives in a fire that broke out in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)