Congress on Saturday condoled the death of children in a fire at a medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district and demanded a probe into the matter as well as strict legal action against those found guilty of negligence.
Hitting out at the Yogi Adityanath government, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said such tragic incidents happening one after another in Uttar Pradesh raise many serious questions about the negligence of the government and administration. At least 10 children died in a fire that engulfed the children's ward of the medical college in Jhansi, officials said, as 16 injured children battled for life on Saturday.
District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Kumar told reporters that the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College possibly due to an electrical short circuit. In a social media post Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The news of the death of innocent children in the accident that took place at the medical college in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. Our deepest condolences to the families of all the children who died in this heartbreaking accident. May god give their families the strength to bear this sorrow."
"We demand from the government that the causes of this accident be investigated and strict legal action should be taken against whoever is guilty of such negligence," he said. Rahul Gandhi also condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident.
"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 administration," said Rahul.