Oxygen cut, 30 children die in Gorakhpur hospital
Row over unpaid bills hits encephalitis, neonatal wards
At least 30 children died since Thursday in Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das Medical College amid allegations that a private contractor stopped supplying oxygen cylinders as the government-run hospital hasn’t paid dues of about ₹70 lakh.
The Uttar Pradesh government denied the charge, saying alternative arrangements for oxygen supply were made and the patients died of “various medical reasons and illnesses”.
But according to PTI, a Union home ministry statement that quoted the Gorakhpur police superintendent said 21 children died due to shortage of oxygen.
The hospital is in chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s constituency and he took stock of arrangements at the encephalitis wards two days ago during a visit.
Most deaths were reported from the neonatal and encephalitis wards. A magisterial probe was ordered into the deaths, district magistrate Rajeev Rautela said. “We have been told that BRD witnessed disturbance in liquid oxygen supply since last night as firm withdrew supply owing to non-payment,” he said.
“The BRD principal told us that out of an outstanding of ₹70 lakh, ₹35 lakh was paid to the Lucknow-based firm. But it denied receiving the money.”
The tragedy triggered outrage and the Opposition — the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress — sought state health minister Siddharth Nath Singh’s resignation and compensation of ₹20 lakh to the families of each deceased kid.
“Kin of the deceased were shooed away after handing over dead bodies to them. Post mortem examinations not done on dead bodies. Admission cards taken out of records. Extremely sad,” tweeted Akhilesh Yadav, former chief minister and SP leader.