NEW DELHI (AFP) – At least 10 newborn infants were killed when a fire broke out in the neonatal unit of a hospital in India, a state government official said Saturday.
The fire broke out at about 10:30 pm (1700 GMT) Friday at the Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Uttar Pradesh state.
“Ten infants have sadly died,” Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak told reporters in a doorstop briefing about the fire.
“Seven bodies have been identified. Three bodies haven’t been identified as yet.”
Another 16 infants were in critical condition after the blaze, news outlet Times Now reported.
Broadcaster NDTV reported that 54 infants in total were in the neonatal intensive care unit when the fire broke out.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the deaths “heart wrenching” in a post on social media platform X.
“My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss,” he posted.
Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.
