The state government in its report admitted that some of the incubators at the hospital used for newborns were not in proper working condition.

The committee, led by secretary medical education and senior doctors who visited the hospital on December 27 to investigate the matter, also pointed out that the extreme cold has made it tougher for babies, already fighting for their life, to survive their illnesses.

All the babies who died were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit. Most of the children were brought to the hospital in a critical condition, said Vaibhav Galeria, the Secretary of Medical Education, who headed the three-member team.

The hospital in Kota is about 250 kms from the state capital of Jaipur. Chief Minister Gehlot today tweeted: "Govt cites figures to say child casualties in JK Lon Hospital in Kota have reduced to 963 this year from 1260 in 2015 and 1193 in 2016 when the state was ruled by BJP. In 2018, 1005 children lost their lives here".

On December 27, the team led by the state's Medical Education Secretary. found lapses in the incubation unit of the neonatal unit. The units were not working properly, and the hospital placed two infants into one incubator due to the shortage.

"We are saddened by this, our responsibility is to give clinical support, several children were brought with critical ailments. BJP can audit if they want, we saved all the children who were in condition to be saved," Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma said.

"The children have not died because of a single factor. The extreme cold weather is also perhaps an added reason for the sudden spike in deaths as extreme weather affects neo-natals adversely, especially those who are low birth weight," read the report of the three-member committee appointed by the Chief Minister.

The Congress government is under attack over the Kota tragedy from political opponents like Yogi Adityanath and Mayawati

Assuring all support to the state, Union health minister Harshvardhan said the Centre is sending a high-level team that would include experts from AIIMS Jodhpur. "It will reach #Kota tomorrow," he tweeted. He, however, said the number of deaths is "definitely higher this time compared to last few years".