Six newborn babies died as a fire burst through a children’s hospital in India’s capital, with people racing into the flames to save the kids, authorities said Sunday.
In a social media statement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire and deaths as “heart-rending”.
Flames engulfed the Delhi hospital late Saturday evening, prompting the fire brigade to respond.
However, in the critical opening minutes, passersby observed the fire and braved the flames to save the neonates.
“All the 12 newborn babies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people,” senior police officer Surendra Choudhary said in a statement but added that by the time they reached medical attention, six were dead.
The blaze in the hospital broke out hours after a separate fire at an amusement park in India’s western state of Gujarat left 27 dead, including four children.
In that fire — which ripped through a centre with a bowling alley and other games crowded with youngsters — police warned that many of the corpses were so badly burned it was difficult to identify them.
Fires are common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and a lack of adherence to safety regulations.
– ‘Negligence’ –
“Legal action is being taken against the owner of the hospital,” Choudhary said.
He did not give further details on how the children died.
In addition to the six reported killed, another baby among the 12 brought out of the ward was dead before the fire began, Choudhary said, without elaborating further.
The fire broke out in the New Born Baby Care hospital in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar area.
Delhi Fire Department Director Atul Garg told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency that 14 fire trucks were sent to battle the blaze.
“The fire spread too fast due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the situation “heartbreaking”.
“We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident,” he said on social media.
“The causes of the incident are being investigated, and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.”
Modi also offered his condolences to those who lost their babies.
“My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this incredibly difficult time,” he wrote on social media. “I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.”
The two fires came as northern India was gripped by intense heat, with temperatures in Delhi hitting 46.8 degrees Celsius (116.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, according to the India Meteorological Department