Gorakhpur hospital deaths: UP Govt. refutes reports of lack of oxygen as cause

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 11 (ANI): After the reports of death of 30 children due to disruption in the supply of liquid oxygen at Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das Medical College's hospital made rounds, the Uttar Pradesh Government jumped in defence of the medical college, while also assuring that the District Magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and the report will be out in 24 hours. "There haven't been any deaths due to lack of oxygen supply. And 'only' seven children have died today. Today three deaths happened in Neonatal ICU, two due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and two due to Non-AES," UP Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tondon said. "The District Magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. The report will be out in 24 hours," he added. He further said that the arrangement of oxygen cylinders was duly made and a strict action will be taken against those responsible for the mishap. Meanwhile, according to data procurred from the BRD hospital, in past five days - from August 7 to August 11, a total of 60 deaths have occurred in the hospital. The procurred data also shows the number of oxygen cylinders sent for refilling each day, showing a clear shortage of liquid oxygen in the hospital. Earlier in the day, it was reported that as many as 30 children lost their lives due to encephalitis in a span of 48 hours at the hospital. Gorakhpur DM Rajeev Rautela said that the cause of the deaths at the BRD Hospital was the disruption in the supply of liquid oxygen and has further appealed to the suppliers to not cut the supply henceforth. The shortage of oxygen led to encephalitis, which is a sudden onset inflammation of the brain. Further details are awaited. (ANI)