Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the newborns killed in the hospital fire in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi.
At least 10 children were burned to death and 16 battling for life after a fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College.
Expressing grief Modi called the incident "heartbreaking' and offered condolences to the family of infants who lost their lives in the mishap. The local administration, under the supervision of the state government, is making every possible effort for relief and rescue, he said in a post on X.
Modi also announced ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the bereaved families and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
"PM @narendramodi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in the fire accident at Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," said the Prime Minister's Office in a post on X.
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also instructed to provide a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the parents of the newborn babies who died in the incident and Rs 50,000 each to the family members of the injured from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the accident took place due to electric short circuit and assured that strict action would be initiated against those found guilty.