2024 Jhansi hospital fire
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| Date | 15 November 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:30 p.m. (IST) |
| Venue | Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College |
| Location | Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 25°26′56″N 78°34′25″E / 25.4489°N 78.5737°E |
| Cause | Electrical short circuit, possible matchstick ignition near oxygen cylinder |
| Outcome | 18 deaths, 8 injuries |
| Deaths | 18 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 8 |
| Inquiries | Investigation ordered by CM Yogi Adityanath |
On the night of 15 November 2024, a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 newborns and injuring 16 others, most of which later succumbed to injuries. The incident occurred around 10:30 PM local time, as the hospital was treating an overcrowded ward with 55 infants, far exceeding its capacity of 18 beds.[1][2][3]
Initial reports suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit within an oxygen concentrator. Eyewitness accounts indicate that a nurse allegedly lit a matchstick while handling an oxygen cylinder, igniting the highly flammable environment of the NICU.[4][5]
The rapid spread of flames and smoke led to chaotic evacuation efforts, with emergency personnel reportedly arriving approximately 30 minutes after the fire started.[2]
Background
Fires in hospitals are not an uncommon occurrence in India.[6] In May 2024, a fire in a neonatal clinic in New Delhi killed seven newborns,[7] while in 2011, a hospital fire in Kolkata claimed 93 lives.[8]
According to a 2019 parliamentary report, India had only 3,377 fire stations, against the required 8,559, and a severely understaffed fire service with 55,000 personnel instead of the recommended 500,000. Similar deficits were seen in fire vehicles, with just 7,300 available out of the 33,000 needed.[6]
Casualties
Out of the 55 infants present, 44 were successfully rescued, and in those16 newborns are succumbed to burns and suffocation. Also 10 babies 10 died in the fire, among them, seven have been identified, with efforts ongoing to identify the remaining three.[1] The injured infants are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across Jhansi, with some in critical condition.[2]