Opposition slams UP Govt over VIP welcome to Minister amid Jhansi hospital tragedy

The opposition parties have sharply criticized the Uttar Pradesh government after a VIP reception was arranged for Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, amid the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 10 newborns at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi. Videos circulating on social media showed elaborate arrangements being made to welcome the Deputy Chief Minister, with claims that the entire hospital compound was cleaned, and lime was sprinkled on the road for his arrival. The Congress called this gesture the "height of the government's insensitivity" in the wake of such a horrific incident.

The Congress party shared a video on social media showing hospital staffers cleaning the area and sprinkling lime on the road as part of preparations for Pathak's visit. The Congress labeled this act as a demonstration of the BJP government's indifference to the loss of life, emphasizing the contrast between the grieving families of the deceased and the government's attempt to “polish its image.”

"While children are dying in fires, this government is busy polishing its image. Shameful!" the Congress said in a tweet. The tragedy occurred when a fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, reportedly caused by a short circuit in an oxygen concentrator. In the blaze, 10 newborns died, and 16 others remain in critical condition.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the health portfolio, visited the site and stated that a short circuit was the likely cause of the fire. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a three-tier investigation into the incident. However, the tragedy has been compounded by the discovery that the fire extinguishers in the ward where the fire broke out were expired, with their last certification dating back to 2020. Furthermore, safety alarms in the ward reportedly failed to go off during the blaze.

The Samajwadi Party, a key ally of Congress, has also condemned the state government’s handling of the incident. They claimed that Uttar Pradesh government hospitals have become places of negligence, corruption, and misery. "There were no arrangements in the hospital to save the children... The BJP is a completely insensitive party. People are dying, but these people will never take responsibility," said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhie Singh.

The tragic incident has sparked outrage, with the opposition demanding accountability from the state government and urging stronger measures to ensure safety in public hospitals.