Ten newborns were killed in a hospital fire in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the latest in a string of similar tragedies that highlight the abysmal state of building safety and fire preparedness in the world’s most populous country.

       The fire, which broke out late Friday at the Maharani Laxmibai Medical College and Hospital in Jhansi, was caused by an electrical short circuit on the ground floor, according to Sachin Mahur, the chief medical superintendent of the government-run facility.

       That was the location of the neonatal intensive care unit. Flames quickly engulfed the ward, which held 49 infants, Mr. Mahur said, speaking via telephone from the hospital. All the victims were less than a year old and on life support. Of those saved from the fire, 17 remained at the hospital, while others went home to their parents or were moved to another hospital, he said. A nurse also suffered burns.

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