Ten newborn babies were killed in northern India after a fire swept through a neonatal intensive care unit on Friday; 38 newborns were reportedly rescued from the ward.

The deadly episode was reportedly caused by a short circuit. Hospital fires are not uncommon in India, which lags in fire preparedness and building safety.

At least 10 newborn babies were killed in a fire that engulfed a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The fire broke out at about 10.45pm (local time) on Friday at the Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College in Jhansi city, where 49 infants were being treated.