Ara: At least two newborns died at the sick newborn care unit on the campus of Ara sadar hospital on Friday while the family members of the victims claimed five children had died the same day.

The family members of the deceased went on a rampage and damaged property worth lakhs of rupees.

They also demonstrated in front of the office of the civil surgeon, Ara sadar hospital, Dr Ras Bihari Singh, alleging laxity in treatment and lack of oxygen.

The employees of the hospital who were deputed at the sick newborn care unit escaped from the scene and the family members of other children undergoing treatment took away their wards somewhere else.

Deputy superintendent, Ara sadar hospital, Dr Satish Kumar Sinha, however, refuted the charges and said two children had died.

He said only critical cases are brought here and added that two critically-ill newborn children were brought on Friday and the doctors had referred them to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) but the family members did not pay any heed to their advice and in the meantime both the children died.