New Delhi: In a shameful rerun of last month’s Gorakhpur tragedy that claimed 68 lives, 49 children have died in the past month in Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) allegedly due to lack of oxygen.
The deaths took place over a month between July 21 and August 20 in the Sick Newborn Care Unit of the hospital. An investigation revealed that the reason behind the deaths was perinatal asphyxia, caused by lack of oxygen.
However, according to hospital sources, 19 of the dead children were stillborn.
The District Magistrate (DM) and three doctors including the Chief Medical Officer were charged and sacked on Monday.
“The deaths were reported over a period of one month at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Farrukhabad. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar ordered a probe into the incident. However, he has been transferred by the Uttar Pradesh government,” sources in the chief minister’s (CM) office told Gulf News.
On Monday, CM Yogi Adityanath ordered an inquiry after the deaths were reported in the local media.
“The doctors should have the knowledge that an absence of adequate oxygen supply can result in deaths and that there is a clear negligence on their part. A case has been registered against the chief medical officer, chief medical superintendent, and some other doctors. Further action will be taken as the investigation proceeds,” Farrukhabad Superintendant of Police (SP) Dayanand Mishra told media.
“The doctors named in the police complaint are Chief Medical Officer Uma Kant, Medical Superintendent Akhilesh Agarwal and Kailash Kumar. A state government high-level team will look into the factual and technical aspect of the incident to ascertain the reason behind the deaths of the children,” the CM office sources added.
The incident comes just days after Gorakhpur tragedy rattled the state government with allegations of medical negligence.
“Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force has arrested Dr Kafeel Khan from Gorakhpur in connection with last month’s Baba Raghav Das Medical College tragedy that led to deaths of as many as 68 patients in Gorakhpur,” Mishra added.
Khan made headlines few days after the tragedy surfaced for his quick response and saving lives of many children. However, later reports suggested that he was involved in stealing of oxygen cylinders from the hospital for his private clinic.
