India hospital fire kills at least 10 newborn babies in 'heart-wrenching' tragedy

The occurrence broke retired astatine a infirmary successful the municipality of Jhansi successful Uttar Pradesh authorities successful India arsenic unit battled to prevention the babies, with workers capable to interruption successful and rescue 44 infants from the flames

A fearfulness blaze astatine a hospital neonatal ward has killed astatine slightest 10 newborn babies.

The occurrence broke retired astatine a infirmary successful the municipality of Jhansi successful Uttar Pradesh authorities successful India as unit battled to prevention the babies.

Hospital workers were capable to interruption successful and rescue 44 infants from the flames, but 16 are said to beryllium successful a captious condition.

Initial reports from the fire, which broke retired astatine Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College Hospital connected Friday night, blasted an electrical fault.

Anguished parents tin beryllium seen gathered extracurricular the infirmary successful pictures from the scene. The occurrence broke retired astatine astir 22:30 section time, successful the intensive attraction portion of the infants ward, according to section media reports.

Officials person said an electrical occupation successful a instrumentality which accrued the level of oxygen successful the ward whitethorn person sparked the fire.

The deaths person been called “heart-wrenching” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi successful a connection posted online.

"My deepest condolences to those who person mislaid their guiltless children successful this. I commune to God to springiness them the spot to carnivore this immense loss," helium wrote.

Three bodies from the blaze are yet to beryllium identified, reporters were told connected Saturday by officials from the Uttar Pradesh authorities government.

A information reappraisal of the nationalist infirmary had been carried retired successful February, and a occurrence drill had taken spot successful June, authorities lawman main curate Brajesh Pathak said.

Bereaved families volition person compensation of 500,000 rupees (£4,600; $5,900) authorities officials person announced.

In May six newborn babies were killed successful a occurrence astatine a backstage neonatal installation successful Delhi, making this calamity the 2nd incidental successful six months wherever a infirmary occurrence ahs taken the lives of babies successful India.