A state in eastern India is investigating the deaths of 17 infants at a government-run hospital.

Authorities say all of the babies died in the last 48 hours at the B.C. Roy Hospital in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.

The state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday called the deaths a “very sad” and ordered a probe.

Angry parents protested outside the hospital and briefly clashed with the police.

Hospital officials denied any negligence and said many of the infants had low birth weight and were already in critical condition when they were admitted to the hospital. Doctors say some of the babies were suffering from severe bacterial infections.