World
16:37, 12-Aug-2017
At least 60 children die in Indian hospital within days as oxygen supply ‘disrupted’
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At least 60 children died at a public hospital in Gorakhpur in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state within five days after a private firm allegedly cut off oxygen supply due to unpaid bills.
Authorities said an inquiry has been launched but declined the allegation that oxygen shortage caused the fatalities.
According to the hospital, the deaths occurred over a five-day period from Monday, with 30 of them recorded between Thursday and Friday alone.
The children had been treated in the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) wards, neonatal wards, and general wards.
Relatives mourn the death of a child at Baba Raghav Das hospital in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. /AFP Photo
Relatives mourn the death of a child at Baba Raghav Das hospital in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. /AFP Photo
In a letter to the Chief Medical Officer on Thursday morning, hospital staff said the storage of oxygen was "dangerously low and would not last the night."
The hospital owed about seven million rupees (109,000 US dollars) to a private oxygen company which has led to the shortage of oxygen, the Hindu newspaper reported.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday denied media reports that the deaths were caused by the disruption of oxygen supply, saying the children died of “various illnesses.”
Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya said authorities would take strict action against those who are responsible for the deaths as an investigation is still underway.
Office of the Prime Minister of India says it will monitor the situation on social media.
Office of the Prime Minister of India says it will monitor the situation on social media.
Office of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Minister of Health and Family Welfare and the Union Health Secretary will "take stock of the situation from Gorakhpur."
3378km