Jhansi hospital fire: Sprinkling of lime, cleaning premises to welcome U.P. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak spark outrage 

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak during an inspection after a fire broke out inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi district on November 16, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

A viral video showing sprinkling lime on the road and cleaning the premises of the State-run Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, in Jhansi, to welcome Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak sparked widespread attention and led to an uproar. Elaborate arrangements were being made on the premises of Jhansi hospital, where 10 newborns died in a massive fire, ahead of the visit of Deputy CM Pathak.

Also read | Opposition hits out at Uttar Pradesh Government

The video sparked outrage with social media users and political parties criticised the local administration and Uttar Pradesh Government for insensitivity and collapse of whole ‘governance’ mechanism. 

“Such visuals are shocking. How could hospital officials be busy in making preparations for Health Minister’s visit. The video shows lack of sensitivity over such a human tragedy,” wrote Binod Chandra, a user on X.  

The Congress alleged that the lime sprinkled inside the premises of Jhansi hospital to welcome the Deputy Chief Minister is an example of shamelessness

“There cannot be a bigger example of shamelessness than this. On one hand, children were burnt to death, their families were crying and wailing. On the other hand, lime was being sprayed on the road to welcome the Deputy CM. This is the height of the government’s insensitivity. Children are dying by burning and this government is busy in polishing its face. The BJP government is running only through publicity and have nothing to do with public welfare. The only mistake those children did was that they were born in Uttar Pradesh during Yogi Adityanath’s regime,” Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary of the Congress, said. 

“Look at the insensitivity of the BJP government. On one hand, children were burnt to death and preparations made to welcome the Deputy CM. The family even says that there was filth spread across the compound, which was cleaned before the arrival of the Deputy CM. Shameful,” wrote the Congress on X. Ten newborns charred to death in the government-run hospital in Uttar Pradesh. 

After the uproar Brajesh Pathak, Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister has taken cognisance of the video and asked the district Magistrate of Jhansi to act on officials who directed such an activity. “Before my visit to the medical College, someone was seen spraying lime on the campus. This is condemnable and shocking. I ask the DM to immediately act on the person who directed for such an activity,” said Mr. Pathak, in a video message. 

Firefighting equipment at Jhansi hospital ‘completely fine’: UP Dy CM

Mr. Pathak also dismissed media reports that the Jhansi Medical College had expired fire extinguishers.

In a statement, Mr. Pathak said a fire safety audit was carried out at the medical college in February and a mock drill was conducted in June.

Some media reports have claimed that the hospital had expired fire extinguishers and faulty alarms.

“The Yogi Adityanath government is standing with the children and their families. Our staff, doctors, and rescue team have worked bravely to save the children. All the firefighting equipment in the medical college was completely fine. A fire safety audit was conducted here in February and a mock drill was also conducted in June,” Pathak said in the statement.

Principal of the medical college, Dr Narendra Singh Sengar, also termed as “baseless” the allegations that the hospital had expired fire extinguishers.

“A total of 146 fire extinguisher systems are installed in the medical college. At the time of the accident, the fire extinguisher of the NICU ward was also used. All these equipment are also audited from time to time. During this, the deficiencies are removed,” Dr. Sengar said.

“All these were audited in February while a mock drill was conducted in June. The claim of fire extinguishers being faulty in the medical college is completely baseless. The fire broke out in the ward due to a short circuit. The accident is being investigated,” he added.