Fire at children's hospital kills seven newborns in Indian capital | Crime News

The hospital owner fled the scene, police said, adding that legal action was underway against the individual.

At least seven infants were killed in a fire at a children's hospital in the Indian capital, a fire official said.

Rescuers transported 12 newborns from the hospital to another facility, but five of them died from smoke inhalation, firefighter Atul Garg said Sunday.

Five others survived and are being treated for smoke inhalation, he added.

The fire broke out late Saturday night at Baby Care Hospital in New Delhi's Vivek Vihar area.

Television footage showed firefighters trying to put out the blaze on the first floor of the hospital. Suresh Kumar, another firefighter, said the fire was put out in about an hour and its cause was being investigated.

“The 12 newborns were rescued from the hospital with the help of others,” police officer Surendra Choudhary said in a statement, adding that when they reached the hospital, several of the infants were dead. .

The owner of the children's hospital fled, police said, with Choudhary adding that legal action was underway against the individual, who has not yet been identified.

VIDEO | A baby center in Delhi's Vivek Vihar was completely gutted by fire last night. The Delhi Fire Service said it received a call at 11:32 p.m. and nine firefighters were rushed to the site. Officials said 11 newborns were rescued from the building. pic.twitter.com/kBOZHcIcqp

– Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 26, 2024

The Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting Garg, that 14 fire trucks had been deployed to tackle the blaze. “The fire spread too quickly because of an explosion in an oxygen cylinder,” he explained.

The bodies of the dead infants were transferred to GTB Hospital in New Delhi for an autopsy, The Indian Express daily reported.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the incident “heartbreaking”.

“We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident,” he said on X. “The causes of the incident are under investigation and those responsible for this negligence will not will not be spared.”

The incident came hours after more than two dozen people, including at least nine children, were killed in a major fire at a crowded amusement park in Rajkot, in the western state of Gujarat from the country. Two people were arrested in connection with the incident, according to local media.

Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes.