From correspondents in Delhi, India, 09:32 PM IST

Two nurses of a government hospital were arrested Thursday for medical negligence that resulted in the death of a six-day-old girl inside an incubator.

'We have arrested Renu Sherwat and Kanta Rani, both nursing staff of Bhagwan Mahavir hospital under section 304-A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder),' Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer district) Sagarpreet Hooda told IANS.

'Doctors would be arrested only after their negligence is established,' Hooda added.

On Wednesday the infant was burnt to death inside an incubator before her mother, sleeping in the next ward, could reach her.

According to Ashok Dang, the medical superintendent of Bhagwan Mahavir hospital in Pitampura, northwest Delhi, the baby was born prematurely on March 7.

'The baby had jaundice and was kept inside the warmer. We have suspended both the doctor and the attending nurse and have ordered an internal investigation,' Dang said.

Om Prakash, the father of the infant, had alleged that the hospital staff did not respond to his alarm that the incubator had caught fire due to a probable short-circuit. Om Prakash, an industrial labour and his wife Kamlesh, are residents of west Delhi.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri announced a compensation of Rs.200,000 to the family of the child.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)