Congress Lashes Out After Jhansi Hospital Fire, Says 'Yogi Adityanath Is Responsible For Tragedy'

A political dispute has emerged following the Jhansi Hospital fire, which killed 10 infants. The Congress is blaming CM Yogi Adityanath for "ignoring" public safety.

Charred remains of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Jhansi Medical College and Hospital after the fire.

Source : PTI

A political war has now ensued over the Jhansi Hospital fire tragedy, which claimed the lives of 10 infants on Friday. The Congress has targeted the Yogi Adityanath government, accusing it of focusing more on "hatred" than on public welfare.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said on Saturday, "I express my condolences to the families affected. Several such incidents have occurred in Uttar Pradesh. This happened in Varanasi, too. This government is ordering only investigations. Yogi Adityanath is going across the country and engaging in politics of hatred."

"The people of Uttar Pradesh have entrusted him to look after them and help them. But that is not happening. There's only politics of hatred. People are being harassed; work is not being done. This government is being run by officers only... The Uttar Pradesh government and CM Yogi Adityanath are responsible for this incident."

#WATCH | 10 newborns died at Jhansi Medical College, where a massive fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) last night.

In Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai says, "It is a very sad incident. I express my condolences...I think this is a very sad… pic.twitter.com/J9nk3aoI2K

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2024

Reacting to the state government's decision to grant Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased, Ajay Rai said money doesn't hold any value when lives have been lost. "People go to hospitals for the safety of health. But they are unsafe in the hospitals," he said. 

As many as 10 newborns died at Jhansi Medical College, where a massive fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on Friday night. The cause of the fire is being investigated. But a suspected short-circuit is believed to have sparked the blaze. Hospital authorities said that the fire spread too quickly, preventing full evacuation of the NICU ward. However, they managed to save 47 kids.

Meanwhile, the UP government launched an investigation into the incident. Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said that anyone found guilty of negligence would not be spared.