Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], November 16 : Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Saturday condemned the Jhansi Medical College blaze that claimed the lives of 10 newborns, calling it a "shame on humanity."
Shrinate criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to take responsibility and address the needs of the people.
"The incident of 10 newborn babies perishing in a fire at Jhansi hospital in Uttar Pradesh is a shame on humanity. The Chief Minister of the state, where 10 children were burnt to ashes, was holding an election rally in Prayagraj just a few hours later. Accountability must be established for this," Shrinate told ANI.
The Congress leader went on to call the deaths of the babies a "murder," stating, "I believe these babies have not just been burnt; they've been killed. The careless state government is responsible for their deaths."
The tragedy unfolded when a fire, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator, quickly spread in the highly oxygenated environment of the NICU, claiming the lives of 10 newborns.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday expressed his sorrow over the deaths and demanded strict action against those responsible.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi 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. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families."
He added, "Such tragic incidents happening repeatedly in Uttar Pradesh raise serious questions about the negligence of the government and administration."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his grief, describing the incident as "heart-wrenching" in a post on X.
He said, "The fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children. I pray for God to give them the strength to endure this tremendous loss. The local administration, under the state government's supervision, is doing everything possible for relief and rescue."
To support the affected families, Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for each deceased child, while Rs50,000 will be given to each injured family.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed his condolences, announcing Rs5 lakh in financial aid to the parents of each deceased newborn. He directed the local authorities, including the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Jhansi, to submit a detailed report on the incident within 12 hours. The state government also announced Rs50,000 for the families of the injured from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
The tragedy has left grieving families devastated, with many still searching for their missing children.