With the death of two more infants, the death toll at the state-run B C Roy Children's Hospital in Kolkata has risen to 23, sparking protests by political parties.

Twenty-one babies had died in the hospital on Thursday and Friday and two more infants died on Saturday night, hospital Superintendent M K Chatterjee told PTI on Sunday.

To a question, Chatterjee said he was not aware of any inquiry ordered into the deaths by the state government.

A scuffle erupted on Sunday between police and Trinamool Congress and Youth Congress workers who tried to force their way into the hospital to protest the deaths.

Some of protestors tried to climb the hospital's main gate. They also burnt an effigy of State Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra. A strong police picket was posted at the hospital.

Chatterjee said a representation was given to him by the Congress on the deaths.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattcharya, accompanied by the health minister, visited the hospital on Saturday evening to review the situation.

Hospital officials said the chief minister asked authorities to provide the best medical care to ailing infants and prevent the spread of infection.