7 newborns’ deaths: AP government orders probe

The Human Rights Commission of the state has also sought details of the infants’ deaths.

"We have deputed a team of doctors to probe the incident. If it is proved that the death was caused by the negligence by the hospital staff we will take action," state Health Minister D. Nagender revealed.

In what may be termed as sheer medical negligence, seven newborn babies died over the weekend owing to faulty incubators at a state-run pediatric centre in the Vijaywada city.

The parents alleged that their babies died due to faulty incubators, failure of the oxygen system, and negligence of the doctors and the nurses.

They also alleged that there were only 11 incubators in the hospital, out of which only four were working in the hospital.

All the seven babies who died were two to three days old.

Hospital authorities deny negligence charges
Initially, the hospital authorities said that the babies died of ‘natural causes’ owing to their own critical conditions.

"The children were in a critical condition due to various ailments and we could not save their lives," said hospital chief Dr. SB Lal.

However, according to sources, the babies were dying since Saturday. It was only when the seventh baby boy died on Sunday that the incident was highlighted following a protest by his father.

“The deaths happened because of the negligence of the doctors and nurses," said Durga Bhavani whose baby boy died.

However, the hospital denied the negligence charges, stating that the baby boy had asthma.

The deaths ignited anger among all the parents and some local legislators who went on to stage a protest outside the hospital. To settle down the matter, the hospital authorities agreed to conduct an enquiry.

The opposition party, Telugu Desam Party, legislator D. Umamaheswara Rao has demanded a compensation of Rs.500,000 to each family whose newborn died at the hospital.

Reportedly, the 60-bed hospital does not have a centralised oxygen supply system and has only 20 incubators.