Eight more infants died in the Malda Medical College and Hospital today, taking the death toll in the past two-days up to 13, hospital sources said.
Several babies who are presently undergoing treatment in the neo-natal ward and the SNCU ward of the hospital are stated to be critical, sources said.
Hospital authorities said, breathing trouble, low birth weight and infection were the prime causes behind the crib deaths, adding most babies were admitted to the hospital from Chanchol, Habibpur and Pakna areas of the district.
"Severe chill in the weather and lack of proper protection from the winter were also behind the new borns being infected with diseases and developing breathing troubles. Most of the patients who came from the villages were already in a very bad shape," a hospital official said.
