NEW DELHI, India (CNN) — Five newborn babies receiving treatment for a skin ailment at a government hospital in north India died after a fire broke out Saturday, authorities said.
Surinder Singh, the medical superintendent of the Rajendra hospital in the Punjab state, told CNN that all babies were less than two weeks in age.
"It appeared to be an electric short circuit (that caused the fire)," Singh said.
The incident happened at around 4 a.m. (5:30 p.m. ET), according to hospital authorities. Hospital staff were able to save five other babies, three of whom are now under treatment for burns, according to Singh.
The babies were all being treated for neo-natal jaundice, the yellowing of the skin that sometimes occurs in newborns. The newborns were in the phototherapy unit, a place that treats skin ailments with light therapy.
Punjab’s deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said an inquiry has been ordered into the hospital fire. In a statement, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh expressed sadness over the newborn deaths and announced assistance of around $2,000 for each bereaved family.
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