New Delhi  - Authorities in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh have begun an investigation into the deaths of seven newborn babies at a hospital, news reports said Tuesday.

The babies died at a government hospital in the Vijayawada city situated 250 kilometres south-west of state capital Hyderabad over the weekend, the Daily News and Analysis newspaper reported.

While the parents said the deaths were due to faulty incubators and medical negligence, hospital officials maintained most of them died because of natural causes.

The state government ordered an investigation after residents protested at the hospital, and the state's Human Rights Commission sought details on the deaths.

"We have assigned a team of doctors to probe the incident. If it is proved that the death was caused by the negligence of hospital staff we will take action," Health Minister D Nagendar was quoted by the IANS news agency as saying.

The babies who died were two to three days old. Their parents alleged that only four out of 11 incubators were functioning at the hospital.

Some local residents also blamed the deaths on a strike by junior doctors who were demanding an increase in their stipends.  (dpa)