Jhansi Medical College fire incident: Causes of fire revealed, investigation completed in 75 minutes A four-member team from Lucknow arrived in Jhansi on Monday to investigate the cause of the fire that broke out in the Special Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (SNCU) of Jhansi Medical College on Friday.
The team spent about 35 minutes inspecting the burnt SNCU and spent another 40 minutes talking to the families of the newborns who were admitted in Ward 5. The team also recorded statements from 20 doctors and nursing staff, including the families of the six babies who died in the fire. The investigation is ongoing, and the team will remain in Jhansi for further inquiries. They are required to submit their report within seven days.
Cause of the Fire: Short Circuit
The fire has been attributed to a short circuit. According to Dr. Kinjal Singh, Director General of Medical Education, the fire started when an extension cord caught fire. The fire spread to a nearby ventilator, causing further damage. Tragically, another infant who was rescued from the fire has died, bringing the total number of deaths to 12. Three babies are still in critical condition.
Investigation and Findings
On Monday morning, the investigation team, led by Dr. Kinjal Singh, also included officials from the Fire Department and the Electricity Department. They first inspected the SNCU and then visited the 10-bed SNCU ward in Ward 5, where they gathered information about the condition of the admitted children.
The team interviewed 20 doctors and staff members, including the nine personnel who were on duty during the fire. They also spoke to the families of the deceased newborns and examined CCTV footage. Key officials, including Dr. NS Sengar (Principal), Dr. Sunita Bhadra (Chief Medical Superintendent), Dr. Kuldeep Chandel (Head of Medicine), and Dr. Om shankar Chaurasia (Head of Pediatrics), were questioned about the incident. The team also spoke to the college’s electrical engineers and workers.
Checking Electrical Equipment Quality
The team from the electricity department will investigate the cause of the short circuit. Experts will check if the electrical equipment was overloaded or if there were any faults in the installation. They will also examine whether a sudden voltage surge caused the fire.
Key Points of Investigation
The investigation will focus on several important aspects:
- Identifying the main cause of the fire.
- What safety measures can prevent such incidents in the future.
- The quality of electrical equipment in the ward.
- Why three times more newborns were admitted than the ward’s capacity.
- Why was the second exit door closed during the fire?
- Why was there no action after a short circuit occurred at 5 pm?
Stricter Fire Safety Measures in Hospitals
Following the fire at Jhansi Medical College, the government has ordered a new fire safety audit for all hospitals in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak instructed hospitals to prepare a checklist of 20 safety points and ensure compliance. He warned that if any hospital is found with faulty wiring, switches, or insufficient equipment, the concerned authorities will be held responsible.
The Deputy Chief Minister also emphasized that no such incident, like the one in Jhansi, should happen in any other hospital. Regular safety drills, equipment checks, and daily inspections by medical officers will be required to ensure hospital safety.
Government’s Support for Victims
Brajesh Pathak expressed his condolences over the incident, stating that the government stands with the families of the victims. Strict action will be taken against those responsible based on the investigation report. He assured that lessons learned from this tragedy would be applied to prevent similar accidents in the future.
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