30 kids die in 48 hrs in Gorakhpur hospital

An inquiry committee has been set up to ascertain the exact causes of the deaths and it has been asked to submit its report by tomorrow evening. Sources said the supply of oxygen to the hospital was stopped on Thursday night due to non-payment of dues to the firm engaged in supplying oxygen to the hospital.

TNN & Agencies

Updated On Aug 12, 2017 at 06:39 AM IST

30 children died in the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur during the last 48 hours
DM Rajeev Rautela said 17 children died in the neo-natal ward, five in the AES (acute encephalitis syndrome) ward and eight in the general ward

GORAKHPUR: At least 30 children died in the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College here during the last 48 hours, district magistrate Rajeev Rautela said on Friday, but gave no reasons for such a large number of deaths. Rautela was quoted by PTI as saying that 17 children died in the neo-natal ward, five in the AES (acute encephalitis syndrome) ward and eight in the general ward.

An inquiry committee has been set up to ascertain the exact causes of the deaths and it has been asked to submit its report by tomorrow evening. Sources said the supply of oxygen to the hospital was stopped on Thursday night due to non-payment of dues to the firm engaged in supplying oxygen to the hospital. But officials said there was nothing extraordinary about the outstanding amount and the hospital, the biggest in Purvanchal, is not facing any fiancial crunch.

UP director general, medical education, K K Gupta told TOI, “Prima facie, the deaths did not take place due to problem in oxygen supply. Back up cylinders were available. The BRD Medical College is the biggest in Purvanchal, and six-seven deaths a day are normal during the peak encephalitis season, when the casualty rates are normally high.“

When asked about the dues to the firm, he said, “Such dues are normal. There is no shortage of funds.“

Minister for medical education Ashutosh Tandon ruled out disruption in oxygen supply as the reason behind the deaths. He said he had announced a magisterial probe into the deaths.

But, as per hospital sources unwilling to be named, there was a sudden drop in the oxygen supply pressure around 8pm on Thursday, and the situation worsened by 11.30pm same day. Around 1.30am Friday, the oxygen supply was resumed with the help of cylinders but it proved inadequate.