Encephalitis claims 34 more kids in 3 days at UP hospital

GORAKHPUR: In an unstoppable cycle of deaths in the peak season for Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome, 34 more children died between Monday and Wednesday evening at BRD Medical College here.

Most of these deaths took place in the neonatal ICU (NICU) and encephalitis ward, the two wings which report maximum casualties.

College principal Dr PK Singh told TOI: "Twenty-four deaths were reported from 5pm on Monday to 5 pm on Tuesday. Of these, 19 were in the NICU and five in the encephalitis ward. Similarly, 10 deaths - seven from NICU and three from encephalitis ward - were reported from 5pm on Tuesday to 5pm on Wednesday."

On August 10 and 11, altogether 30 children had died at the hospital where oxygen supply was found to be disrupted on August 10.

Contradicting the claim of Pushpa Sales Pvt Ltd, the firm at the centre of the controversy, that it never stopped the supply of liquid oxygen gas, Dr Singh said the same had been delayed.

"The liquid oxygen gas tanker generally is required every fourth to fifth day," the principal said, adding that the record showed that while one tanker arrived on August 4, the next one came on August 12. "Interestingly, another liquid oxygen tanker arrived just three days later, on August 15," he added.