Gorakhpur hospital deaths: NHRC issues notice to UP government

Terming the case a serious violation of the Right to Life of the patients, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the deaths of over 60 children at Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur allegedly due to lack of oxygen supply.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the NHRC asked the U.P. Chief Secretary for a detailed report on the incident, as well as steps taken for the relief of the victims' families and action against officials responsible, within four weeks.

Around 60 children admitted to the intensive care unit of the government-run facility died in a span of days, reportedly due to the oxygen supply being stopped due to pending payments to the supplier.



Thirty of the deaths took place over 48 hours on August 10 and 11. The government has denied the charges, saying the children died due to different illnesses, including Japanese encephalitis.

The NHRC said the incidents pointed towards "gross callousness on part of the hospital administration and the Medical Education and Health Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh".

In fact, the NHRC observed that it had taken up the issue of deaths caused by Japanese encephalitis with the Chief Secretary during an open hearing and camp sitting conducted at Lucknow on August 9-11.

"However, in spite of assurance given by the state administration, the situation has not improved," the NHRC observed.