Karnataka: Opposition slams government over deaths of 90 infants in Kolar hospital since January

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah received a report that says as many as 90 infant deaths have been recorded at Kolar's Sri Narasimha Raja Hospital, after three infants died at its newborn care unit this week. Following which, opposition leaders have demanded that chief minister Siddaramaiah step down immediately.

At a press conference held at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Malleswaram, state BJP president and former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa lambasted the government. He seeks a response on the issue from the chief minister, health minister and AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. BJP has sent a team headed by MLA Suresh Kumar on a fact finding mission to the district hospital in Kolar and other places.  Further course of action will be decided once a report is submitted to the state president.

Incidentally, the district hospital in Kolar is in the



constituency of Health minister KR Ramesh Kumar.

MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar tells India Today that children in the state have always been vulnerable, whether in school or while playing because the overall safety network for children is weak.

In this case, he says the need of the hour is to find out if, "It is the negligence of the doctors or parents or even infrastructure". He believes there is a need to look at the way the public health system is working in the state. According to him, Kolar is not a remote area but very much close to Bengaluru and if things are in such a bad condition here, he said, "I shudder to think what is happening in remote primary health centres and other health centres run by the government of Karnataka in different parts of the state".

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought a detailed report on the issue from the Health Department.