Ten newborns were killed in a massive fire at a hospital in Maharashtra, the richest state in India, on Saturday, a doctor said while leading politicians expressed grief over the loss of life.
“The fire broke out at 02:00 today,” said Pramod Khandate, a civil surgeon at the Bhandara district’s general hospital in the western state. Seven of the 17 children in the Sick Newborn Care Unit have been rescued, Khandate told ANI.
Uddhav Thakre, Prime Minister of Maharashtra, ordered that the incident be investigated.
“Heartbreaking tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we lost precious young lives,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. ‘I think of all the grieving families. I hope the injured recover as soon as possible. ”
A number of other politicians, including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, have also expressed their sadness.