Three days after opening, five infants die in hospital's children's wing in Ludhiana

They died during the 'process of delivery', the families allege

Three days after the inauguration of a mother-child wing at the Ludhiana Civil Hospital, five new-born infants today died during the "process of delivery", which the families alleged were carried out by "class IV employees in the absence of gynaecologists".

Ludhiana Civil Hospital head Subash Batta said that five kids died at the time of delivery with the hospital having denied any negligence on its part.

"Babies died during the process of delivery," hospital's gynaecologist head Alka Mittal said.

Mittal said that the pregnant women were being shifted to the old wing of the hospital as the Operation Theatre in the new mother-child wing was not functional.

The families alleged that in the absence of the gynaecologist, the deliveries were facilitated by class IV employees, a claim which was denied by the doctors.

Batta said an inquiry has been initiated into the matter.