Building fires are common in India due to a lack of firefighting equipment and a routine disregard for safety regulations.

Babies rescued from the fire, all only days old, were moved to a new unit inside the hospital where staff were caring for them.

Ten infants have unfortunately died despite our best efforts,” doctor Narendra Sengar, the principal of a medical college attached to the hospital, told AFP. Sengar said all 39 other babies in the ward had been rescued and were in good health, contradicting earlier media reports that 16 had been critically injured. […] Doctors and staff on duty had rushed to the rescue of the babies “without caring for their own lives”, he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of 500,000 rupees ($5,900) each to the bereaved families.

Authorities said that the hospital was not properly licensed and lacked proper fire exits, and police arrested a doctor and the facility’s owner in the aftermath.