Gorakhpur tragedy: UP Govt. again refutes disruption of gas supply as cause of deaths

Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 12 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh Government on Saturday again refuted the reports that children in Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das Medical College's hospital died due to disruption of gas supply and assured of a high level probe into the deaths, headed by the Principal Secretary.

Also, the government has suspended the principal of the BRD Medical College.

"After the first level of investigation, we can claim that the deaths did not take place due to disruption of gas supply. The discussions happened in detail, but issue of gas supply that should've come to light didn't come up," Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh said, while addressing the press conference regarding the tragedy.

"We are suspending the BRD medical college principal with immediate effect for this negligent behaviour," State Minister for Medical Education Ashutosh Tandon said.

Tandon also assured of a high-level probe into the tragedy, headed by the Principal Secretary.

"We will wait for the report and an action will be taken," Tandon added.

The Prime Minister's Office also took to Twitter and announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constantly been monitoring the situation in Gorakhpur and is in constant touch with authorities from the Central and state governments.

"PM is constantly monitoring the situation in Gorakhpur. He is in constant touch with authorities from the Central & UP Governments," the PMO tweeted.

"MoS Health Anupriya Patel & the Union Health Secretary will take stock of the situation from Gorakhpu," said another tweet by the PMO.

Earlier in the day, the alleged disruption in the supply of liquid oxygen at the hospital claimed lives of three more children.

The shortage of oxygen allegedly led to encephalitis, which is a sudden onset inflammation of the brain, following which the children died.

The families of the children have claimed that the doctors were not treating them well and the hospital was not even providing the medicines which were required for the treatment.

As per the locals, though the hospital is supposed to provide free medical assistance, neither there is proper medical facility available nor are the patients provided free medicines.

Earlier on Friday, it was reported that over 30 infants at the BRD Hospital died due to alleged disruption in the supply of liquid oxygen.

Following this, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Saturday asked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to step down from his post.

Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also informed that a Samajwadi Party delegation would be visiting Gorakhpur and said the state government and administration are hiding crucial facts in the case.

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. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI