The Fire Tragedy at Jhansi Medical College : A Call for Urgent Reforms in Hospital Fire Safety Standards

11th December, 2024 - 6:38 am Categories: News & Updates 0 Comments

Introduction

A fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Jhansi Medical College, Uttar Pradesh, on November 15, 2024. Eleven infants died in the blaze-10 from burns and asphyxiation and one from unrelated pre-existing medical conditions. It put the nation in shock,and put forward questions on safety standards,negligence,and accountability in hospitals. While survivors and parents are grappling with the loss, this incident makes them realize that this wasn’t just an accident, but a catastrophic failure of safety systems and protocols that had to be there to protect the vulnerable infants.

The Incident

The children’s ward at the Jhansi Medical College with a live fire was considered to be a consequence of short circuiting and was allowed to spread rapidly due to the lack of any fighting measures that may retard the spread.Reports observed that the ward caught fire rendering useless the treatment facility for its 49 infants. Unfortunately, on the day of the fire, 10 infants died, and a premature that had been treated alongside these died at a later stage following the fire as a result of unrelated conditions.It was painfully clear that the hospital’s preparedness for a crisis of this nature was woefully lacking. It is reckoned that there were major safety protocol lapses, from non-functional alarm systems to using inappropriate fire extinguishers which although present were dysfunctional and ill-suited for sensitive environments.Only four multipurpose fire extinguishers were located within the ward, despite the fact that the proper type for a medical unit, uniquely within an intensive care unit, ought to have been CO2-based extinguishers.Such a brazen act by the hospital displays its blatant disregard for ensuring enough fire safety measures-capable were tinkering with life-hiding machinery.

Inadequate Fire Safety Systems

The hospital was also grossly deficient with its fire-safety systems.It has recently come to light that the fire extinguishers were out of date, the fire alarms weren’t functioning, and there was only one exit in the ward, which really violated the basic fire-safety regulations.Especially notable was that the SNCU (Special Newborn Care Unit) ward had no alternative exit, and then with this, there could have been more damage done to life and effort in escape and rescue during the fire.Additionally, the unit was operating beyond capacity, with 49 infants crowded in a unit built to accommodate 18,thereby compounding the situation.The management was aware that the mandatory mock drill,which was required by central health authorities in preparation for such emergencies, had not been conducted between 12th to 14th November.The inexcusable failure to conduct the fire drill shows that the hospital had not done enough to prepare for fire safety even in the face of directives and regulations meant to avert tragedies such as this.

Testimonies of Courage and Loss

In the aftermath of the occurrence, anguishing tales of valour and heartbreak began to take a toll on each heart. Yakub Mansuri, from Hamirpur district in UP, lost his newborn twin daughters to the inferno. However, even in the midst of all this chaos, he managed to rescue several other infants and only left the ward with immense courage. His recounting of the incident surely shows the sheer horror of the moment, the valiant attempt of the hospital staff, and the relatives of the left-behind newborns to brave the visitation very early under conditions of smoke, scantiness of resources, and unpreparedness for such emergencies.Kuldeep Singh, the father of one such victim, recounted the ordeal he faced, along with the threats that set him against all odds in saving lives of five little innocents. His testimony gave life to the tortures and the psychological traumas the parents and families went through, as many were being threatened to keep silence over the episode. In his specific case, the hospital management hardly paid any heed to his phone calls and requests to save other infants; at times,it appeared as if they had totally zonked out.

The Role of Negligence in the Incident

The negligence of the hospital, failing to employ at least adequate fire safety measures such as emergency preparedness and fire safety equipment, was strikingly evident. The absence of functional fire extinguishers, the absence of emergency exits, and the failure to adhere to fire safety drills should indicate a systemic lapse in responsibility. This further implies that the fire extinguishers used in the ICU were ABC-type, being multipurpose but inappropriate for the sensitive environment of an ICU. The proper fire extinguishers, namely CO2-based, were not available, and hence once the fire broke out, it spread uncontrollably.

No Amount of Compensation Can Fill the Void

In response to this horrific tragedy, the Uttar Pradesh government has declared a monetary compensation for the families of victims. The chief minister has disclosed that compensation of ₹5 lakh has been given to the families of children who died in the fire, and that those whose kids were injured will get a sum of ₹50,000. However, no amount of monetary compensation can fill the void left inside the life of parents who have lost their children, nor could they relieve trauma undergone. Yakub Mansuri, Kuldeep Singh, and countless others will have the deep emotional shock of this tragedy go with them to their graves, and no amount of monetary compensation shall ever even slightly cover the cost of an innocent life lost.

Conclusion: The Need for Urgent Reforms in Hospital Safety

That is really alarming in terms of a stark pointer to the disaster in hospital fire safety protocols and the calamitous outcome of neglect in a healthcare environment. Monetary compensation to the families might be some alleviation, but surely it does not get to the blood and guts of the matter: the Non preparedness, laxity, and lack of accountability on the management of the hospital. Urgent reforms to the hospital fire safety code and renewal of existing laws with stringent implementations, accountability for negligent practices taken to enable this incident shall not be repeated in the foreseeable future. While there is always a desire to seek the highest possible monetary compensation for a life lost, one should consider that no compensation can come close to replacing the value of a life lost and that the wounds inflicted upon families will in all likelihood fester long after the media hype has died down.

Author: Madhavi Singh, in case of any queries please contact/write back to us via email to chhavi@khuranaandkhurana.com or at Khurana & Khurana, Advocates and IP Attorney.eferences

• Interview with Nurse Megha James, NDTV News.Available at:
• https://youtu.be/j1xTBzv5LQQ?si=Qs1FTUkBqheK64dB
• Interview with Kuldeep Singh, Victim’s Father.Available at:
• https://x.com/ShikhaA85882938/status/1857699443908174110
• YouTube Interview with Kuldeep Singh and Other Witnesses. Available at:
• https://youtu.be/d17Qw3U3FPk?si=Qc4QfPuR33xRs9Nq
• National Building Code of India 2016, Part 4: Fire and Life Safety. Available at:
• https://www.bis.gov.in