In statement issued on November 16, CPIML has expressed condolences and anger over the tragic fire in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Maharani Laxmibai Government Medical College in Jhansi on Friday night (Nov 15), which claimed the lives of 10 newborns and left 16 others injured.
Calling the incident a blatant example of negligence by the health department, the party demanded the resignation of the state Health Minister.
CPI(ML) Uttar Pradesh unit stated that the health department in the state is in shambles. Even premier institutions like KGMU in the capital fail to provide adequate care, with doctors referring patients to private hospitals where a network of brokers facilitates admissions under fraudulent pretences.
The Jhansi tragedy has drawn grim parallels with the 2017 Gorakhpur BRD Medical College oxygen crisis, where 33 children lost their lives due to an oxygen shortage under the same BJP-led Yogi government. This time, the fire was reportedly caused by a short-circuit in an oxygen concentrator.
The party, pointing towards the health department's oversight, asked how such critical equipment was in use without proper fire safety measures in place. The available fire extinguisher was expired, and there were no experts or functional safety protocols. CPI(ML) termed the incident a "mass murder" rather than an accident, holding the government responsible.
The party demanded a high-level investigation to punish those responsible, Rs. 25 lakh compensation for each bereaved family instead of the Rs. 5 lakh announced, free and comprehensive treatment for the injured children, and a thorough safety audit of all hospitals to prevent such incidents in the future.
