40 more newborns were rescued during hospital fire: Staffer

About 40 more newborn babies wererescued during the last week's fire at the General Hospitalin Bhandara in Maharashtra, a hospital staffer claimed onWednesday.

Ten newborn babies had died and seven others wererescued after the fire broke out in the Sick New Born CareUnit (SNCU) of the government-run hospital in the wee hours ofSaturday.

An attendant claiming to be on duty in wards 6 and 7(C-Section) at that time told journalists about 40 morenewborn babies were also rescued.

The attendant said she, along with a nurse and asecurity guard, shifted around 40 newborns to the opthalmologydepartment when smoke started entering wards 6 and 7.

Senior district officials were not available forcomment on the issue.

An inquiry, ordered by the Maharashtra government, isunderway to find out the cause of the fire.