Jhansi hospital fire: Road markings ahead of Dy CM’s visit spark row

Markings on road with lime powder ahead of the Deputy Chief Minister’s visit to Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi, where at least 10 children died in a fire incident on Friday, have sparked a major row in Uttar Pradesh.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who was not amused by these markings, on Saturday asked the

District Magistrate to take action against the person who got the work done.

Pathak, along with Principal Secretary of the Health Department, had arrived in Jhansi after the death of children in a fire that engulfed the children’s ward of the medical college. The children, who were in the outer part of the NICU were rescued, along with some of those who were in the interior part.

Besides, 16 children, who were injured in the tragic incident, are battling for their lives.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, some workers were seen making marks on the road with lime powder. This practice is followed during the movement of VIPs.

In a video message, Pathak said, “Before I reached Jhansi Medical College, some person was laying lime powder on the roadside, which is very sad. I condemn this. I will ask the District Magistrate to identify the person, who got the work done, and take strong action against him. I will never accept this.”

A statement from the Uttar Pradesh Government said as soon as information about the incident was received, Yogi Adityanath sent Pathak and the Principal Health Secretary to the spot.

District Magistrate Avinash Kumar said the fire broke out around 10.45 pm on Friday in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), possibly due to an electrical short circuit.

The state-run medical college started services in 1968 and is one of the largest government hospitals in the Bundelkhand region of UP.