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Even as the number of children’s deaths recorded at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur escalates, with the count now standing at 63, members from Opposition parties condemned the state’s BJP government for their apathy and negligence towards the situation.
According to reports, the deaths occurred due to lack of oxygen supply at the pediatric wards, and encephalitis. The UP government has, however, denied that the cause of deaths was due to a shortage of oxygen supply.
The hospital is located in UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s constituency. He has directed the ministers to conduct a thorough probe into the matter and ensure strict action.
Catch all the live updates in the story here, as it unfolds.
Mayawati Slams BJP, Urges Govt to Take Responsibility
BSP Chief Mayawati announced that she has sent a 3-member team to Gorakhpur to take stock of the situation in the hospital and keep her updated on it.
Addressing the media, she urged the BJP to take responsibility and launch a probe against the concerned authorities.
The BJP should accept responsibility and help the victims’ kin. The CM should launch take action against the concerned people and treat this matter with high importance.
Akhilesh Yadav Pins Govt’s Negligence as Cause
Accusing the BJP government for the death of the numerous children, former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the government cannot shirk its responsibilities now.
BJP cannot bring back the lost lives, but now they should step up and help the families of the victims. Instead, they are running away from their responsibilities. They are scared to face the people who elected them to power.
He also urged the Yogi Adityanath government to come forward and announce compensation to the victim’s kin. Further highlighting the government’s negligence, he brought up the fact that the hospital authorities defaulted payment despite constant reminders from the oxygen suppliers.
He had also tweeted earlier in the day, urging strict action.
Congress Demands Yogi’s Resignation
A Congress delegation of leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Raj Babbar and RPN Singh reached Gorakhpur to enquire about the incident.
Speaking to the media at the site, Ghulam Nabi Azad said,
It is a heart-wrenching incident. We are saddened by the deaths. This is all because of the state government’s carelessness. The CM should apologise to the country and he, along with the Health Minister, must resign. The CM is from this constituency (Gorakhpur). He cannot back away from this responsibility… The doctors of this hospital are not at fault.
‘Pained over the Deaths’: Rahul , Sonia Gandhi
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi expressed deep shock over the death of the 30 children.
The Congress President said she was pained beyond words by the humongous tragedy and that her heart went out to the families of the innocent children who “fell prey to gross negligence and incorrigible misconduct on part of the authorities”.
Rahul Gandhi said the “BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government was responsible for the tragedy.”
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