In a horrific incident, a newborn baby was burnt to death due to the negligence of the staff of Srinagar’s GB Pant Hospital.

The female infant had allegedly got burnt on Sunday when the staff placed her in front of a heat blower. The family had come for her treatment from Keeri.

The hospital management constituted a 5-member team to inquire into the lapse following the intervention of the Governor’s Grievance Cell and an outcry of the infant’s family and people.

Attendants of the baby said that she was born at a private hospital five days ago and was admitted to the GB Pant Hospital on Saturday after she developed some complications. They claimed that the baby was in the intensive care unit (ICU) and was declared dead by the doctors on Sunday.

The baby had burn marks on the legs and other parts of the body, her parents said.

The hospital staff had placed the baby very close to a heating appliance as a result of which she sustained severe burns and died, they alleged.

Senior doctors were not responding to telephone calls and the hospital has also not issued any statement except announcing that findings of the committee will be submitted within 48 hours.

Several social media users have demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible for the tragedy.

Former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, also condemned the incident. She tweeted, “No words are enough to condemn the criminal negligence at GB Panth hospital where a new born baby was allegedly burnt to death. Hope an exemplary punishment is given to the culprits responsible for this horrific incident so that no other child meets this kind of fate.”

No words are enough to condemn the criminal negligence at GB Panth hospital , where a new born baby was allegedly burnt to death . Hope an exemplary punishment is given to the culprits responsible for this horrific incident so that no other child meets this kind of fate . pic.twitter.com/BSzFtq8Ggw

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 4, 2019

This is not an isolated incident of negligence on the part of doctors of government hospitals in Srinagar. Last month, a woman, who had come from a far-flung area, delivered a baby outside a hospital as she was allegedly refused admission. The child died soon after birth.