India Confirms 133 Children Dead at Single Hospital

Uttar Pradesh health minister Siddharth Nath Singh.

New Delhi, MINA – At least 133 patients, mostly children, died since early August in one of India’s state hospitals, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh confirmed Saturday.

These deaths have taken place in the Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur city, northern India, since the beginning of this month, Singh said in a press statement, according to Indo Asian News Agency.

He pledged to take strict action against officials responsible for this tragedy if there was any negligence amid claims by the patients’ families that the doctors refused to discharge the young patients despite their stable condition.

Various diseases, including encephalitis, might have caused the deaths during that period, the Indian minister said, denying reported paucity of oxygen caused by the suspension of oxygen cylinder supply by a private company for alleged non-payment of dues.

The incident has triggered widespread condemnations, as opposition parties demanded the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Health Minister as well.

Meanwhile, Adityanath pledged, in a press conference today, that he is to take stringent action against officials responsible for this tragedy. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)