Cuttack, Aug. 23: The district administration is investigating into the death of infants because of alleged medical negligence at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Postgraduate Institute of Paediatrics, popularly known as Sishu Bhavan.

Additional district magistrate Bibhuti Dash has started the probe to find out what led to death of eight infants on August 21.

However, only the families of two newborns have so far lodged formal complaints holding the medical staff responsible for the death of their babies.

Preliminary inquiry reveals three infants had died in the newborn intensive care unit, while two were reported dead at the paediatric intensive care unit. Three infants died atother units in the hospital.

All the eight deaths were reported within 24 hours, which subsequently led to an uproar at the Sishu Bhavan.

District collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said: "Out of the eight deaths, only two families have lodged complaints and the entire issue is being investigated."

"The statements of the doctors and other medical staff members present during the treatment period have been recorded last night," said the district magistrate.

"All information regarding the medical history of the infants admitted and the treatment provided to them have been collected as part of the inquiry process," said Dash.

Besides, the Sishu Bhavan authorities have also ordered an internal inquiry by a team of experts to ascertain the exact cause of deaths.

"The team is expected to submit its report within 24 hours. So far, there have been no reports of negligence in providing treatment to the infants at the NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit)," said hospital superintendent Niranjan Mohanty.

Statistics revealed that the death rates at the ICU of the hospital have increased to 25.84 per cent in 2014-15 against 16.17 per cent in 2013-14.

A total of 564 children out of the 2,183 admitted at the Sishu Bhavan ICU had died in 2014-15, while 326 deaths were reported against 2,016 admissions in 2013-14.

There were 278 deaths against 1,820 admissions in 2012-13 at the hospital.

The Sishu Bhavan authorities have decided to add eight beds at the paediatrics intensive care, which is now functioning with 12 beds. Seven more beds will also be added to the existing nine-bedded NICU. The bed capacity at the NICU will go up to 15 and is supposed to play a crucial role in providing emergency care for infants.