In a heart-wrenching tragedy that has shaken the city, a fire broke out late Friday night in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, claiming the lives of several newborns. Among the survivors is Yakoob Mansuri, a young father who displayed extraordinary bravery in rescuing several infants, but lost his own twin daughters in the disaster.
Yakoob, a food vendor from Hamirpur in his 20s, had been staying outside the NICU with his wife, Nazma, keeping vigil over their premature newborns. When the fire erupted, Yakoob broke a window to enter the smoke-filled NICU and pulled out as many babies as he could. Tragically, his own daughters could not be saved. Their lifeless bodies were identified the following day.
Sitting outside the hospital on Saturday, Nazma and Yakoob struggled to process their devastating loss. “We waited a week, praying for their survival. And now… they’re gone,” Yakoob said, his voice heavy with grief.
The tragedy has left several families shattered. Sanjana Kumari, who had just given birth to her first child, recounted the horror of witnessing her newborn perish in the flames. “My baby burned to death in front of my eyes. I was helpless,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “This hospital’s negligence destroyed my dreams.”
Santoshi Devi from Jalaun brought her baby to the hospital for treatment after complications during delivery. When the fire broke out, she searched desperately for her child in the chaos but later identified his body. “I heard screams and ran, but it was too late. My baby was gone,” she said, overcome with anguish.
Sonu and Sanjana, a couple from Lalitpur, were among those grieving. Their premature son, under treatment for respiratory issues, was among the casualties. “We sold everything we had, took loans, all for the hope that our son would survive,” said Sonu’s brother, Parsuram. “But in the end, we lost him.”
Distraught families have accused hospital staff of failing to act promptly when the fire broke out. “No one informed us or helped us. We heard the screams too late,” said Niranjan Maharaj, who lost his grandchild. He identified the baby’s body by the name tag on the tiny, charred remains.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the hospital has faced mounting criticism for inadequate safety measures and its handling of the emergency. Families have demanded justice, calling for accountability and swift action against those responsible.
The victims’ families now face the harrowing task of burying their dreams along with their children. “We did everything we could,” Sonu said, his voice breaking. “But they were taken from us.”
As Jhansi mourns, the question remains: could more lives have been saved if the hospital had been better prepared?
The Chenab Times News Desk