Ten newborns killed in north India hospital fire

The babies died from burns and suffocation aft a blaze swept done a neonatal intensive attraction portion successful Jhansi.

A occurrence ripped done nan neonatal portion of a infirmary successful bluish India, sidesplitting 10 newborns and injuring 17, nan authorities said.

Emergency responders rescued 38 newborns from nan ward, which housed 49 infants astatine nan clip of nan incident, said Uttar Pradesh state’s Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak connected Saturday.

The occurrence collapsed retired astatine 10:30pm (17:00 GMT) connected Friday astatine nan Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College successful Jhansi, astir 450km (280 miles) southbound of nan nationalist capital, New Delhi.

“Seventeen of nan injured are receiving curen successful different wings and immoderate backstage hospitals,” Pathak told reporters successful Jhansi.

The newborns died from burns and suffocation. Seven of nan dormant infants person been identified, while efforts were connected to place nan remaining three, Pathak said.

The origin of nan occurrence was being investigated, but constabulary said it was astir apt caused by a faulty oxygen concentrator.

Footage from nan segment posted connected societal media showed charred beds and walls wrong nan ward arsenic anguished families waited outside.

The rescued babies, each only days old, were laid broadside by broadside connected a furniture elsewhere successful nan infirmary arsenic unit hooked them up to intravenous drips.

Images of charred beds and walls wrong nan neonatal portion astatine nan Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College successful Jhansi [AFP Screenshot]

One babe remains missing, a authorities official, who asked not to beryllium identified arsenic he was not authorised to speak to media, told nan Reuters news agency.

Pathak said a information audit of nan infirmary was carried retired successful February, followed by a occurrence drill 3 months later.

“If immoderate lapses are found, strict action will beryllium taken against those responsible and nary 1 will beryllium spared,” he said.

District charismatic Avinash Kumar told The Hindustan Times newspaper that nan occurrence was caused by an electrical short circuit successful nan unit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called nan deaths “heart-wrenching” successful a station connected societal media.

“My deepest condolences to those who mislaid their guiltless children successful this,” Modi wrote. “I believe to God to springiness them nan spot to carnivore this immense loss.”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced compensation balanced to $5,900 to nan bereaved families.

Building fires are communal successful India owed to shoddy building and a regular disregard for information regulations. Six months back, a akin blaze astatine a children’s infirmary successful New Delhi killed 7 newborns.

Last October, a immense detonation involving fireworks near dozens of group injured successful nan authorities of Kerala.

Source

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Al Jazeera and news agencies