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.

A fire tore through a neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital in northern India, killing 10 newborn babies and injuring 16 others, authorities said.