10 babies killed in late night fire at a Maharashtra hospital

New Delhi : Nothing less than 10 new born babies were killed in a late night fire incident in Maharashtra hospital.

Seventeen babies were admitted at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the four-storeyed hospital in Maharashtra's Bhandara district at the time of incident. Seven of them, who were admitted to the inborn ward of the unit, were rescued by the fire brigade officials; those in the outbound ward couldn't be rescued.

News agency PTI quoted a doctor who said that all infants were among the age group of 1 to 3 months.

"Ten children died in a fire that broke out at the SNCU of Bhandara District General Hospital at 2 am today. Seven children were rescued from the unit," District civil surgeon Pramod Khandate said.

It has been learned that a nurse first noticed smoke coming from the neonatal unit, she instantly informed the doctors.

"There were fire extinguishers and staff used them while trying to douse the fire. There was too much smoke," Dr Khandate said. 

While the cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, a short circuit is believed to have set off the blaze. 

Patients admitted to other wards have been shifted.