Jhansi hospital fire: Opposition hits out at Uttar Pradesh government 

Leaders asked CM Yogi Adityanath to leave the election campaign and focus on improving the poor condition of health and medical facilities in Uttar Pradesh

The Opposition parties on Saturday (November 16, 2024) targeted the Uttar Pradesh Government for alleged negligence and poor condition of health facilities in the State resulting in the Jhansi hospital fire tragedy on November 15.

Leaders asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to leave the election campaign and focus on improving the poor condition of health and medical facilities in the State.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the death and injury of several newborn children in the tragic accident at Jhansi Medical College. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Such tragic incidents happening one after another in Uttar Pradesh raise many serious questions about the negligence of the government and the administration. The government should ensure that the injured children get the best possible treatment. This tragic incident should be investigated immediately and strict legal action should be taken against the culprits,” wrote Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha on X.

“The news of 10 children dying and many children getting injured due to fire in Jhansi Medical College is extremely sad and worrying. Heartfelt tribute to everyone. The cause of the fire is being said to be a fire in the ‘oxygen concentrator’. This is a direct case of negligence of management and administration of poor quality oxygen concentrator. Punitive action should be taken against all those responsible in this case. The Chief Minister should leave the election campaign and false claims of ‘everything being fine’ and focus on the poor condition of health and medical facilities. Only the families who have lost their children can understand the pain and suffering. This is not only a governmental responsibility but also a moral responsibility,” said the Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “Shocking news has come from Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, where ten children have died due to a fire in the neonatal intensive care unit. Words of condolence and solace are futile in this time of great tragedy. We stand with the family and parents in this difficult situation,”.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati pushed for strict punishment for the culprits of the fatal negligence. “The extremely sad incident of the death of 10 newborn babies due to fire in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, Jhansi, has naturally caused uproar and anger. Strict legal punishment is necessary for the culprits for such fatal negligence. It is impossible to compensate for such incidents, yet the government must help the affected families in every possible way,” the former four-time U.P. CM wrote on X.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed condolences on the death of newborns in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College Hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi and demanded strict legal action against guilty.

Published - November 16, 2024 10:16 am IST