Yogi cracks whip, FIRs being filed

LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath government has begun to crack the whip against those responsible for the deaths of children at Gorakhpur’s BRD Medical College where more than 30 kids died in 48 hours, allegedly due to disruption in oxygen supply between August 9 and 11.

Principal secretary, medical education, Anita Bhatnagar Jain has been shifted and principal secretary, revenue Rajnish Dubey has been given additional charge of the department.

An official spokesman said criminal cases were being registered against those indicted by the probe committee, headed by chief secretary Rajive Kumar that submitted its report to CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday.

According to sources, the committee has recommended registration of criminal cases against negligent officials of the medical college. Those against whom criminal cases are likely to be registered

AN OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN SAID CRIMINAL CASES WERE BEING REGISTERED AGAINST THOSE INDICTED BY THE PROBE COMMITTEE

include Pushpa Sales – the private company that stopped oxygen supply to BRD Medical College for non-payment of dues of about Rs 67 lakh.

“Criminal cases are being registered against six persons and entities, including Pushpa Sales,” said a senior officer. The sources said the committee has taken into account the report of district magistrate, Gorakhpur.

The DM’s report had indicted former principal of BRD Medical College Rajiv Mishra and Dr Satish Kumar, head of department (anesthesia), who was responsible for ensuring uninterrupted supply of liquid oxygen.

Chief pharmacist Gajanan Jaiswal was held responsible for not maintaining logbook and stock book for the oxygen cylinders.

An overwriting had been found in the stock book etc. Three staff members of accounts department have also been held responsible in the DM’s report for not processing in time the file about payment of bills.

Sources said action against incharge of encephalitis ward Dr Kafeel Khan was also likely.

Besides recommending registration of criminal cases, the chief secretary led committee has also made recommendations about steps and action plan to check recurrence of such incidents in future.

The committee comprised secretary, health Alok Kumar, secretary finance Mukesh Mittal and medical superintendent of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) Dr Hem Chandra.