KOLKATA: Twenty-three infants have died in the city's B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children over the past three days. A series of demonstrations by supporters of different political parties were held outside the hospital on Sunday in protest against the alleged negligence of the authorities and the lack of infrastructure facilities there.

Most of the babies who have died were only a few days old, were pre-mature and severely under-nourished, according to hospital authorities. Some had been admitted to the hospital in a critical condition.

Some demonstrators tried to force their way into the hospital premises by breaking through a barricade set up by the police. They were dispersed by policemen who were deployed in strength. The protestors belonged to the Trinamool Congress, the Congress and the Socialist Unity of India — each party staging demonstrations at different points in time in the course of the day. They demanded the resignations of the State's Health Minister and the Superintendent of the hospital.

Concerned over the deaths, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the State's Health Minister, Dr. Surjyakanta Mishra, visited the hospital on Saturday evening when they held a meeting with the hospital authorities and reviewed the situation. An inquiry into the deaths has been ordered.

Dr.Mishra said on Sunday that the large number of deaths over such a short period was largely the result of a sudden rush in admission of pre-mature and under-weight infants.

On an average three babies die each day, according to the hospital superintendent Dr. Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee.

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