Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury described this as a "national crisis" and said, "The figures are shocking and we are in a national crisis if you ask me."

The minister said in some states newborn girls have been killed by pouring sand or tobacco juice into their nostrils.

A UNICEF report titled, "The State of the World's Children 2007," released this week said a majority of girl fetuses are aborted after sex determination tests.

The report said India was losing 7,000 girls everyday because of the traditional preference for sons.

AA