India: Fire in neonatal ward kills 10 newborn babies

Ten newborn babies have died after a fire swept through a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in northern India.

The fire, which also injured 17 other babies, spread quickly through the ward in Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi city late on Friday, where 49 infants were being treated, according to state deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.

He said seven of the babies killed had been identified, with the authorities working to identify the remaining three.

"Seventeen of the injured are receiving treatment in different wings and some private hospitals," Mr Pathak said.

He said the cause of the fire was not yet known.

"We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government stands with families during this difficult time," he added.

Eyewitnesses said rescue efforts began about 30 minutes after the fire started, and that the ward was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Rescuers had to break through the windows to reach the babies.

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Questions have been raised over the hospital's safety measures, because parents of the babies and witnesses claim fire alarms did not activate during the blaze, according to The Associated Press.

One of the parents whose baby died in the incident told the news agency: "If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the "heart-wrenching" incident.

He wrote on X: "My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this.

"I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss."

(c) Sky News 2024: India: Fire in neonatal ward kills 10 newborn babies