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Fire at children’s hospital kills seven newborns in India’s capital
At least seven infants have been killed in a fire at a children’s hospital in India’s capital, says a fire service officer.
Rescuers carried 12 newborns from the hospital to another facility, but five of them died due to smoke inhalation, fire officer Atul Garg said on Sunday. Five others survived and are being treated for smoke inhalation, he added.
The fire broke out late on Saturday night in the Baby Care Hospital in New Delhi’s Vivek Vihar area.
Television footage showed firefighters attempting to douse the fire on the first floor of the hospital. Suresh Kumar, another fire officer, said the fire was extinguished in about an hour and its cause was being investigated.
“All the 12 newborn babies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people,” said police officer Surendra Choudhary in a statement, adding that when they reached the hospital, several of the infants were dead.
The owner of the children’s hospital has fled, police said, with Choudhary adding that legal action is being taken against the individual, who is yet to be identified.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported quoting Garg that 14 fire trucks were put to battle the blaze. “The fire spread too fast due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder,” he said.
The bodies of the dead infants have been transferred to New Delhi’s GTB Hospital for postmortem examination, The Indian Express daily reported.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the incident “heartbreaking”. “We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident,” he said on X. “The causes of the incident are being investigated, and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.”
The incident came hours after more than two dozen people, including at least nine children, were killed in a big fire at a crowded amusement park in Rajkot in the western state of Gujarat. Two people were arrested in connection with the incident, local media reports said.
Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes.
(Aljazeera)
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Landslide Early Warnings to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura effective from 16:00 hrs on 23.04.2026 To 16:00 hrs on 24.04.2026
Accordingly,
Level 1 landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Rideegama in the Kurunegala district and Kuruwita, Kalawana, Ratnapura, Nivithigala, Pelmadulla and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district.
US forces have boarded a ship carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, the US military says.
It comes as the deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament says Iran has received the first tolls from shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He did not say who paid the tolls, or how much they were, and the BBC has not verified his claim.
Donald Trump has previously said the US would taget ships if they pay Iran to use the strait.
Yesterday, Iran attacked three cargo ships as they tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz – and claimed it seized two of them. BBC Verify has analyzed footage said to be of the seizures, released by Iranian media.
[BBC]
Latest News
Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Ampara and Batticaloa districts
Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 12.00 noon 23 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 23 April 2026
Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.
There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Kurunegala and Ratnapura
US boards ship carrying Iranian oil, as Iran MP says first Strait of Hormuz toll paid
Advisory for Severe Lightning issued for the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Ampara and Batticaloa districts
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