Akhilesh announces ₹2 lakh aid to kin of victims

Former chief minister and SP president Akhilesh Yadav announced a financial aid of ₹2 lakh to the families of the children who died at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur.

NEWDELHI: Moved by the Gorakhpur tragedy, BJP Lok Sabha member Varun Gandhi today pledged Rs 5 crore from his MP development fund to build a state-of-the-art paediatric wing in Sultanpur district hospital.

Over 60 children have reportedly died at state-run BRD Medical College Hospital since August 7, many allegedly for want of oxygen whose supply was disrupted after bills were not paid to the vendor.

“The human tragedy in Gorakhpur has left me jolted.”

While grieving the terrible loss of lives of all the children, the incident must “act as an impetus” to take actions that serve as a deterrent to recurrence of such an event, the 37year-old MP said in a statement. Gandhi said he spoke this morning to the chief medical superintendent, the chief medical officer and the district magistrate of Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

“I have pledged an amount of Rs 5 crore from my MPLADS fund, to build a Model Hospital Paediatric Wing with state-ofthe-art infrastructure, in the district hospital. This will be accompanied by a matching grant of Rs 5 crore more, to be raised personally through donations and collections from Corporate Social Responsibility funding,” the statement said.