Jhansi Hospital Fire Eyewitness Who Saved 20 Babies Recalls Horrifying Moments

Kripal Singh Rajput whose own grandson was admitted at the hospital spoke to ETV Bharat on how he managed to save 20 babies.

Jhansi: An attendant, whose own grandson was also admitted at the Uttar Pradesh hospital where 10 infants were killed in a massive fire on Friday night is being hailed as a hero for saving the lives of at least 20 babies from the raging flames.

At least 10 newborn babies died and 16 others were injured in the fire that broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh.

In a conversation with ETV Bharat, Kripal Singh Rajput, an attendant recalled the moment when the flames erupted from the ward of the NICU. Singh said that at around 10 pm, the doctors called the mothers to feed the children.

“As soon as we went towards the NICU, we saw a nurse coming out screaming with a burning chair in her hand. Her clothes were also on fire. Seeing the flames, I entered the ward without a second thought and started to take the children out safely,” Singh recalled. Along with other infants, Singh managed to safely evacuate his grandson who too was admitted in the same ward.

Singh said he evacuated 13 children safely through the NICU main gate initially. After the exit routes from NICU were engulfed by flames, Singh along with other rescuers somehow broke the window of the NICU ward and evacuated seven more newborn babies from the burning ward.

"We broke the steel mesh of the window and carried out the newborns so that their lives could be saved," Singh recalled the rescue moments. Singh further alleged that the hospital staff ran for their lives and did not help in the rescue efforts.

Earlier today, UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also said the incident took place due to an electrical short circuit, and assured that strict action would be initiated against those found guilty.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of Jhansi to submit a report regarding the incident within 12 hours.

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