Ten newborns killed

New Delhi: Ten newborn infants have died in a fire at a hospital in western

India, officials said.

There were 17 infants in the unit for sick newborn babies when the fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday (local time) at the Bhandara District General Hospital in Maharashtra state.

Seven infants died from smoke suffocation and three from burn injuries, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said.

Seven babies were rescued by the nurses and ward staff. All the infants were between a few days and 3 months old.

The Government has ordered a probe into the incident and a safety audit of all neonatal care units in the state. — DPA