Oxygen cut, 30 die in Gorakhpur hospital
UNPAID BILL 20 children among casualties as ‘alternate arrangements’ prove inadequate; magisterial probe ordered
people died in two days at a hospital in Gorapkhpur due to disruption of liquid oxygen over a payment dispute, district magistrate Rajeev Rautela said on Friday. Maximum deaths were reported from neonatal and encephlitis wards.
“We were told that the hospital witnessed disruption in liquid oxygen supply since last night as the firm supplying the gas withdrew service,” the DM said. “Since August 9, 30 deaths have been reported”.
Hospital authorities, however, said that alternate arrangements were made from adjoining Santkabeernagar district.
Rautela said the oxygen supply at the BRD Medical College, which has the largest hospital in the Gorakhpur region, was allegedly stopped as the suppliers’ bill of ₹67 lakh was not cleared, he said.
Gorakhpur is UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s constituency. The incident happened a few days after the CM visited the hospital and inspected the encephlitis
We were told the hospital witnessed disruption in liquid oxygen supply since last night as the firm supplying the gas withdrew service
wards of Baba Radhav Das Hospital and also held review meetings with top officials including chief secretary medical education.
A high level magisterial probe has been ordered in to the deaths which occurred between Thursday night and Monday noon, till 12, Rautela said at a hurriedly called press conference.
Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav tweeted: “Children died in Gorakhpur due to lack of oxygen. Government is responsible. Should take stringent of action on those responsible and give ₹20 lakh compensation to each.”