Patna, Sep 24 (IANS): The authorities Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the death of three newborns in a government hospital here, officials said.

Three newborns died at the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital here early Tuesday due to negligence and apathy of health officials concerned. The officials were responsible for supply of oxygen cylinders for critical patients.

NMCH superintendent Santosh Kumar said that a committee of doctors has been constituted to probe the deaths.

"The committee will look into negligence and other aspects as alleged by relatives of the children who died," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, after hue and cry by opposition BJP over the death, the state health department has asked for an explanation from Kumar about the incident.

Bihar health minister Ramdhani Singh said he has instructed officials concerned to visit the NMCH to collect information in connection with the incident and fix responisibility if negligence is found.

The NMCH's head of the department of pediatric department, A.K. Thakur refuted the charge of scarcity of oxygen cylinders. He said all the three children died due to natural causes as they were seriously ill.

Last week, police arrested Subhash Prasad, an employee of Patna Medical College and Hospital, who allegedly refused oxygen to a boy unless bribed, leading to the patient's death.