The fire occurred on Saturday, leading to the arrests of the hospital owner and the doctor on duty.

An investigation has found that the hospital also did not have fire extinguishers or an emergency exit.

The tragedy took place hours after a fire broke out in a gaming arcade in Gujarat state’s Rajkot city, killing 27 people.

Fires often break out in residential and commercial buildings in India due to a lax enforcement of safety norms.

Saturday’s tragedy, where a blaze engulfed the hospital in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar neighbourhood, has horrified and angered people.

Police commissioner Shahdara Surendra Chaudhary told ANI news agency that the hospital’s NOC (No Objection Certificate) had expired on 31 March.

A fire NOC – which certifies that a building meets fire safety standards – is required for hospital buildings that have a height of more than 15m (49ft).

Mr. Chaudhary added that the hospital was permitted only five beds but had installed 10.

At the time of the fire, 12 newborn babies were at the hospital. Five of them are now being treated at another hospital.

Police have arrested Dr Naveen Kichi, director of the hospital and a doctor named Akash (the police shared only one name) in connection with the fire. They have been charged with culpable homicide.

Dr Akash, who was on duty at the time of the incident, was not qualified to treat newborn babies in need of intensive care, police said.

The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial inquiry.

Dramatic visuals of fire engulfing the building on Saturday circulated on social media.

The director of Delhi’s fire department, Atul Garg, told the Press Trust of India news agency that the fire had spread due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder.

Media reports say that the police is also investigating the possibility of the hospital running an illegal oxygen cylinder filling racket after locals reported suspicious activitie

Officials also said rescue efforts were slowed by limited access to the building, which has a single staircase and no fire escape.

Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the tragedy was “heartbreaking”.

“The causes of the incident are being investigated and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared,” Mr Kejriwal said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “heart-rending.” He has announced an ex gratia of 200,000 rupees ($2407; £1889) to the family members of each of the deceased and 50,000 rupees each to those injured

An inferno swept through an intensive care Covid-19 ward at a hospital in St Petersburg.

A total of 150 patients were evacuated from St. George City Hospital, said the emergency services.

All five people, who died, were connected to ventilators at the time, it is understood.

An inferno swept through an intensive care Covid-19 ward at a hospital in St Petersburg. Pictured, damage to the ward’s windows

“An electric equipment malfunction, short-circuit failure, is seen as the preliminary reason,” said an emergency services spokesman.+8

A total of 150 patients were evacuated from St. George City Hospital, said the emergency services.

Eleven in the same sixth floor ward were rescued and taken to lower floor of the hospital.

Smoke was seen pouring from the window at the hospital which had been re-categorised to cope with coronavirus patients during the pandemic.

Fire rescue crews gathered in the hospital’s car park and a nearby road to tackle the blaze

The emergency services later said the fire had been localised.

Smoke was seen pouring from the window at the hospital which had been recategorised to cope with coronavirus patients during the pandemic.

It is the second similar fire in three days in Russia.

Workers of the St Petersburg Fire Service undergo disinfection after a fire at St George’s Municipal Hospital.

A Russian Emergency Situation worker disinfects two men near the scene of the deadly fire.

On Saturday a 95-year-old woman Evdokia Butryakova died in a Moscow hospital when an oxygen balloon supplying a ventilator exploded causing a fire major which led to 295 patients being evacuated.

The charred body of the pensioner was found after the blaze was extinguished at Clinical Hospital 50.

The authorities are examining the causes of both fires.