NEW DELHI: Six newborn babies have died after a fire broke out at a children’s hospital in New Delhi, the Indian capital, with people charging into the blaze to rescue the infants, police said on Sunday.
The blaze, which broke out late Saturday at the New Born Baby Care hospital located in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar area, prompted a swift response from emergency services to rescue the infants from the inferno.
Senior police officer Surendra Choudhary confirmed that all 12 newborn babies present in the hospital at the time of the fire were evacuated with the help of the people. However, upon receiving medical attention, six of the infants succumbed to the effects of the fire.
Choudhary said that legal action is being pursued against the hospital’s owner. He said that one baby among the 12 brought out of the suffocating fumes was already deceased prior to the outbreak of the fire.
Delhi Fire Department Director Atul Garg said that 14 fire trucks were dispatched to combat the rapidly spreading flames. Garg attributed the rapid escalation of the fire to a blast in an oxygen cylinder.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his profound sorrow over the tragedy, describing the situation as “heartbreaking”. Kejriwal pledged a thorough investigation into the incident, promising that those found responsible for any negligence would be held accountable.
