At least 10 newborns died from burns and suffocation after a fire at a neonatal intensive care unit in northern India, a government official said on Saturday.
The fire started on Friday (15) at the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, in the district of Jhansi, about 285 km southwest of Lucknow, capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Rescuers rescued 38 newborns from the ward, which was housing 49 babies at the time of the fire, said state deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.
“Seventeen of the injured are receiving treatment in different wards and some private hospitals,” Pathak told reporters in Jhansi. Seven of the dead babies have been identified, while authorities are working to identify the remaining three, he said.
One baby remains missing, said a government official who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a probe into the case.
The Indian Prime Minister expressed condolences over the “distressing” tragedy.
“My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this,” Modi posted on Platform X. “I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss.”
