At Least 30 Children Feared Dead In Gorakhpur Hospital In 48 Hours After Alleged Disruption In Oxygen Supply

At least 30 children died in the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh in the last 48 hours. According to district authorities, 17 children died in the neo-natal ward, 5 in AES (acute encephalitis syndrome) ward and 8 in the general ward.

ANI

The hospital had allegedly ran out of Oxygen after the firm supplying oxygen to neonatal units and encephalitis wards allegedly stopped supply due to non-payment.

¡°Total 30 deaths in last 48 hours. Supply of liquid oxygen was disrupted yesterday day due to pending payment. Requested suppliers not to disrupt supply,¡± said District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela.

ANI

As per reports, the hospital had a pending bill of Rs 69 lakh from the supply firm.

In the wake of this incident, an inquiry committee has been set up to ascertain the exact causes of the deaths.

Gorakhpur is the Lok Sabha constituency of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the incident comes barely two days after he visited the hospital.

Meanwhile, an official statement from Gorakhpur Medical college has denied all such reports.