India, Aug. 25 -- Three newborn infants died after a devastating fire broke out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the District Women's Hospital on Monday, prompting the state Government to order a high-level inquiry into the tragedy.

Thirty-six other infants were rescued from the smoke-filled facility following the fire, which erupted at around 3.15 am inside a section of the NICU housing premature, low-weight, and critically ill babies, officials said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep grief over the "heart-breaking" incident and ordered a high-level probe to investigate the cause of the fire and pinpoint administrative failures. "The health administration has been directed to conduct a high-level ...