A father’s saga of courage and sacrifice amid tragedy at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College
Team Clarion
JHANSI – Yaqoob Mansuri, a humble food vendor from Hamirpur, became a hero for countless families on a fateful Friday night. But for his own family, his courageous act came too late. Yaqoob’s twin daughters, only a few days old, became victims of the devastating fire that broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. While Yaqoob’s bravery saved many children, he could not save his own.
The tragic fire, which left a permanent scar on the hearts of many, broke out in the early hours of Friday night. Yaqoob was sleeping outside the NICU ward, where his daughters were getting treatment after their premature birth. Little did he know that the night would bring unimaginable loss.
As the fire started, smoke quickly filled the unit. Yaqoob, without hesitation, broke the window and entered, risking his own life to save as many babies as he could. His hands worked in overdrive, pulling out children one by one. Yet, despite his valiant efforts, his daughters remained inside the inferno.
“I could not save my children,” grief-stricken Yaqoob said as he stood outside the hospital with his wife, Najma. The couple, visibly distraught, clung to each other for support, tears flowing freely as they faced the unthinkable.
The fire’s toll was devastating. Yaqoob’s twin daughters were discovered dead the following day. The realisation that his heroic actions had failed to save his own children was a painful blow.
Yaqoob’s bravery has not gone unnoticed. His selflessness in saving other newborns has touched many. “He saved so many children, but he could not save his own. His actions remind us of the power of compassion and courage,” said a resident.
The tragedy has also spotlighted the hospital’s severe safety shortcomings. Critics are calling attention to the negligence and lack of proper fire safety measures, especially in a ward housing vulnerable infants. The fire that claimed the lives of Yaqoob’s daughters and others’ newborns has sparked outrage nationwide, with calls for reform in hospital safety protocols.
Outside the hospital, the cries of grieving families painted a picture of unimaginable sorrow. For Yaqoob and Najma, the loss of their daughters, coupled with the haunting images of their struggle to save them, will forever haunt them. The Jhansi fire has shattered dreams and exposed the fragility of life, alongside governmental and institutional negligence.
“This is not just the loss of two children; it is the loss of dreams, hopes, and lives,” said a family friend. “The pain of losing a child is incomprehensible, but to lose them in such a tragic and preventable way is even harder to bear.”
Yaqoob’s bravery has made him a symbol of humanity. His willingness to risk his life to save others, despite the tragedy that befell his own family, shows that humanity transcends all boundaries of religion, caste, or creed.
The story of Yaqoob Mansuri’s courage, his heartbreaking loss, and his unyielding love for his family remind us of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of overwhelming tragedy. Though his family’s grief is compounded by the injustice of the situation, Yaqoob’s selfless actions will forever serve as a shining example of the strength of the human heart in moments of despair.