![Eight newborns die in the span of two days in Villupuram hospital](http://media.assettype.com/tnm%2Fimport%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdoctor_11.png?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
At least eight new born babies have died in the span of two days at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Villupuram Government Medical College and HospitalOn Wednesday April 16, four newborn babies died between 5:00 a.m and 7:00 a.m. Then on Thursday April 17, four more newborn babies died. The parents have accused the hospital of negligence, but the hospital authorities have ruled it out saying that the babies died due to low birth weight and delivery-related complications, reported The New Indian Express.According to a senior official at the hospital, all the babies had been preterm and weighed 1.2 kgs as opposed to the normal weight of 2.5 kgs. One baby was found to have a cyst on its umbilical cord while another suffered from respiratory distress. Extra care was given to both these babies who were administered anti-biotics and admitted in the NICU unit of the hospital, reported The Hindu.A two-day-old boy born to Parvathi of Thirukovilur was one of the babies who died. As was the case with a three-day-old boy born to Govindammal of Sankarapuram. Another two-day-old boy born to Kala of Nallur village near Thirukovillur was also one of the unfortunate who died - he died because of breathing problems. A 27-day-old girl who was born to Indiralekha of Alandur village near Ulundurpet also did not survive.Vijay Bhaskar, the health minister of Tamil Nadu personally paid a visit to the hospital to pay his condolences to the grieving families.