Ten newborns killed in hospital fire in northern India

At slightest 10 newborns person died successful a occurrence astatine a infirmary successful bluish India aft a blaze broke retired successful the neonatal ward.

Staff astatine the infirmary successful the municipality of Jhansi successful Uttar Pradesh authorities were capable to interruption successful and rescue 44 infants, but astatine slightest 16 are successful a captious condition, authorities said.

The blaze connected Friday nighttime astatine Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College Hospital is being blamed connected an electrical fault.

Pictures from the country showed anguished parents extracurricular the hospital.

Indian media reported that the occurrence archetypal broke retired successful the intensive attraction portion of the infants ward astatine astir 22:30 section clip (17:00 GMT).

Local officials judge an electrical abbreviated circuit oregon different responsibility successful a instrumentality utilized to summation the level of oxygen successful the ward sparked the fire.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has posted a connection online calling the deaths "heart-wrenching".

"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.

Officials from the Uttar Pradesh authorities authorities told reporters connected Saturday 3 bodies were inactive yet to beryllium identified.

State lawman main curate Brajesh Pathak said a information reappraisal of the nationalist infirmary had been carried retired successful February, and a occurrence drill arsenic precocious arsenic June.

State officials person announced compensation of 500,000 rupees (£4,600; $5,900) for the bereaved families.

This is the 2nd salient infirmary occurrence successful India successful six months wherever newborns person been killed. In May, six babies were killed successful a occurrence astatine a backstage neonatal installation successful Delhi.