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Fire in India's neonatal ward kills 10 babies, injures 17 others

Fire in India's neonatal ward kills 10 babies, injures 17 others

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

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

Pathak said seven of the slain babies had been identified, while authorities were working to identify three others.


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

As reported, the cause of the fire is still unknown, he writes sky news, the Telegraph reports.

"We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict measures. The government stands by the families during this difficult time", added the deputy prime minister.

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

Otherwise, questions have been raised about the hospital's security measures, because the parents of the babies and witnesses claim that the fire alarms were not activated.

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

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the incident.

He said: “My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children. I pray to God to give them the strength to face this great loss". /Telegraph/