Police officers investigate the scene after a fire broke out at District General Hospital in Bhandara, Nagpur, India. AP

Gulf Today Report

Ten newborns were killed on Saturday in a massive fire at a hospital in Maharashtra, India's richest state, a doctor said, as leading politicians expressed grief at the loss of life.

A preliminary investigation suggests the fire was caused by an electrical short-circuit, said police officer V.S. Chavan.

"The fire broke out at 2am (2030 GMT) today," said Pramod Khandate, civil surgeon at Bhandara District General Hospital in the western state. Seven of the 17 children in the Sick Newborn Care Unit were rescued, Khandate told Reuters partner ANI.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thakre ordered a probe into the incident.

"Heart-wrenching tragedy in Bhandara, Maharashtra, where we have lost precious young lives," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. "My thoughts are with all the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover as early as possible."

Media and police personnel gather outside the district general hospital at Bhandara on Saturday. AFP

A number of other politicians, including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, also expressed their grief.

Firefighters rescued seven babies from the newborn care unit of the hospital in Bhandara, a town in Maharashtra state nearly 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) south of New Delhi. The Press Trust of India news agency said the infants were 1 to 3 months old.

Firefighters rescued seven babies from the newborn care unit of the hospital in Bhandara, a town in Maharashtra state nearly 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) south of New Delhi.