Saturday, January 31, 2009

Five newborns killed in incubator fire in Patiala

An accidental fire in an incubator killed five newborns and injured another at a state-run hospital in Punjab on Saturday, officials said.

An accidental fire in an incubator killed five newborns and injured another at a state-run hospital in Punjab on Saturday, officials said.

The accident occurred at Rajendra hospital in Patiala where the babies were being treated for jaundice in a special phototherapy machine using special lights.

Police and hospital authorities said a short-circuit could have sparked the fire.

"Five infants were killed before help could arrive," Surinder Kumar, the hospital's superintendent, said.

The babies were all less than a week old and had been fed by their mothers barely 20 minutes before the accident.

The local government has ordered an investigation. The families are being given about $2,050 each as compensation.

No comments: