Gross callousness in Gorakhpur: NHRC

The NHRC criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for its “gross callousness” and demanded a report on the death of at least 64 children at BRD Medical College, even as five more children died at the state-run facility on Monday.

The deaths have caused nationwide outrage. The opposition is gunning for chief minister Yogi Adi ty ana th, refusing to buy his argument that the children died of encephalitis and not because oxygen supply was cut by a private firm over non-payment of dues.

“This indicates towards gross callousness on part of the hospital administration and the medical education and health department soft he government of Uttar Pradesh,” the National Human Right Commission said.

Hindustan Times saw three children die at the Baba Raghav D as Medical College on Monday. Parents and relatives told HT that two more infants had died earlier in the day.

The deaths were not confirmed by the hospital as no one was willing to talk to media.

The NH RC, which took note of media reports, asked chief secretary Rajive Kumar to submit within four weeks steps taken for relief and rehabilitation of the affected families as well as the action taken against the guilty officers.

The commission said death sin such large numbers in a government hospital amounted to violation of right to life and health.

The deaths due to Japanese Encephalitis were discussed with the chief secretary and other officers but despite assurances, the situation had not improved, it said. A mosquito-borne virus, encephalitis ravages eastern Utt ar Pradesh every year and has killed more than 50,000 children in the last 30 years, including nearly 3,000 in BRD medical college since 2012.