UP refutes reports of death of 30 children in Gorakhpur hospital

Lucknow, Aug 11 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday denied media reports that more than 30 children had died at the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, the parliamentary constituency of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, due to lack of oxygen.

A statement issued by the state Information Department late evening categorically denied reports shown by "some TV channels as misleading".

It however said District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela was personally stationed at the medical college and keeping vigil on the situation emanating out of the death of seven patients on Friday due to "different medical reasons".

The statement came hours after the Gorakhpur DM was seen on TV grabs confirming "death of 30 kids in the last two days" and seven deaths in the last 24 hours.

Rautela had told local TV channels that 17 children had died in the neo-natal ward, five in the ward meant of patients suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome and eight in the general ward.

Denying that the children had died due to lack of oxygen, he confirmed that there was shortage of liquid oxygen at the medical college and that due to non-payment of Rs 70 lakhs, the vendor supplying oxygen has stopped the supply. However, he said the principal had told him that for emergency use, alternative arrangements have been made.

He further said that part payment of Rs 35 lakh has been made to the vendor and that he had been requested not to disrupt the oxygen supply.

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