press trust of india
Gorakhpur (UP), August 11: The district magistrate’s report Friday on the death of at least 30 children at the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College here over the past two days has opened a Pandora’s box.
While the Gorakhpur DM, Rajeev Rautela, gave no reason for the deaths, the Union home ministry quoting the Gorakhpur Superintendent of Police, said 21 children had died owing to shortage of supply of liquid oxygen to the hospital. “According to SP Gorakhpur, 21 children died due to shortage of supply of liquid oxygen in BRD Medical College, in last 36 hours. Senior officers are on the spot. The exact cause is being verified by civil administration,” a home ministry spokesperson said.
Rautela, who was camping in the hospital, however, denied that the casualties were due to a shortage in oxygen supply. He said he had ascertained from the doctors that the deaths had not occurred from a lack of oxygen.
Siddharth Nath Singh, the health minister of UP, said: “The death of children is very unfortunate and the government will set up an inquiry committee to ascertain if any lapse has occurred. If anyone is found guilty, he will be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, leaders of Opposition parties have reacted sharply to the development. Samajwadi Party and the Congress have sought the resignation of Singh.
UP Congress President Raj Babbar termed the incident unfortunate and sought action by CM Yogi Adity-anath,while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav sought a compensation of Rs20 lakh each to the kin of the dead.