Newborn babies die after fire at Delhi hospital

By Dearbail Jordan, May 26: At least six newborn babies have died following a fire at a hospital in Delhi, according to police.

The blaze broke out late on Saturday evening at a hospital in the Indian capital's Vivek Vihar region.

There were 12 babies in the unit were, senior police officer Surendra Choudhary, said. Another had died before the fire began.

Authorities said legal action would be taken against the owner of the hospital who had fled.

Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, said the fire was "heartbreaking".

"The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared," Mr Kejriwal said.

The director of Delhi's fire department Atul Garg told the Press Trust of India news agency that 14 fire trucks were sent to fight the blaze.

But he said: "The fire spread too fast due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X: "The fire tragedy at a hospital in Delhi is heart-rending.

Earlier on Saturday, a "massive fire" broke out at a games arcade in Rajkot, in the western state of Gujarat.

At least 27 people have perished, local officials said. Many of the victims are believed to be children.