A fire has torn through a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in northern India, killing 10 newborns and injuring 16 others, according to authorities.
The fire occurred late on Friday at a hospital in Jhansi city in India's Uttar Pradesh state.
Officials said the blaze spread quickly through the ward where 55 infants were being treated.
Bimal Kumar Dubey, a local official, said 45 babies were rescued and were now receiving medical care.
An initial investigation pointed to lapses in safety protocols, including expired fire extinguishers and non-functional fire alarms, which officials said delayed rescue efforts.
Authorities are conducting a probe to determine the cause of the fire.
Brajesh Pathak, the deputy chief minister of the state, visited the hospital and met with families on Saturday, pledging government support for the victims' families.
"We will identify those responsible for this tragedy and take strict action. The government stands with families during this difficult time," he said.
He added that DNA tests were being carried out, after which the bodies of the babies would be handed over to their families.
When the firefighters arrived, the ward was engulfed in flames and plumes of smoke. Rescuers had to break through windows to reach the newborns.
Eyewitnesses said the rescue operation began about 30 minutes after the fire erupted, delaying evacuation efforts.
Shocked and grieving family members who were camped out near the hospital demanded answers about what they said were poor safety measures.
While fire alarms had been installed in the intensive care unit, parents and witnesses said they did not activate during the blaze.
Hospital staff acted only after they saw signs of smoke and fire.
"If the safety alarm had worked, we could have acted sooner and saved more lives," said Naresh Kumar, a parent who lost his baby.
Akhtar Hussain, whose son was rescued and is receiving treatment in an adjacent ward, agreed that the tragedy could have been prevented if the hospital had better safety protocols.
Mr Pathak, the state official, said the hospital's fire safety systems were last inspected in February, followed by a mock drill in June.
Fires are common in India, where building laws and safety norms are often flouted by builders and residents.
Poor maintenance and lack of proper firefighting equipment in the country also lead to deaths.
AP
