Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

A tragic incident took place at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur last week, where in past few days, 63 children died due to lack of oxygen.

All the opposition parties across the nation are condemning the incident and have held the Yogi Adityanath-led government responsible for the incident. The opposition alleged that it was due to the irresponsibility of the government and the hospital administration that the children suffered the fate. It is being said that the firms who supplied oxygen to the hospital owed it 69 lakh rupees and hence the firm had stopped the supply of oxygen. However, the hospital administration denied the allegations saying that the children did not die due to oxygen deficiency.

Criticising the incapable government the opposition also demand the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh on the basis of ethics.

Responding to the allegation and the demand for the resignation Sidharth said that no one died between 11:30 pm and 1:30 am on the night of August 10 in Baba Raghav Das Medical College Hospital when oxygen supply got disrupted. Defending the government and himself he explained that “the last death which happened on August 10 was at 10:05 pm. The next unfortunate death happened at 5:30 am on August 11. The oxygen disruption happened after 11:30 pm for a couple of hours. From 7:30 pm, low pressure came in through the piped gas – the valve was then switched to gas cylinder oxygen. If oxygen is not there, a child will die immediately. More than 100 others were also admitted and oxygen was connected to them too. How did those patients survive?”

He further added that the after going through the records doctors have said that the deaths were due to some other reasons. He said that it can be assumed that the documents and records may be fudged to cover up the government but one can’t fudge everywhere. He assured that a magisterial inquiry is on if something comes out, further action will definitely be taken.

Giving details about the contract with the oxygen supplier Sidharth said that there is a contract between oxygen supplier INOX, dealer Pushpa Sales (who takes a commission) and the BRD Hospital. Pushpa sales had written a letter to the principal, BRD on August 1 seeking its due payment of Rs 69 lakhs. Responding to which the principal wrote a letter to DG, medical education on August 4 saying Pushpa Sales needs to be paid Rs 68 lakh.

A payment of Rs 2 crore was released to the principal from which 69 lakh was to be paid to Pushpa sales, but the principal did not pay the amount till 11 Aug. Siddarth said that Pushpa sales again wrote a warning letter to the principal saying that it will cut off the supply. UP health minister alleged that the supplier’s actions were fishy and that he was up to something. “There are reports with us from many doctors saying they had heard he was doing some deals,” he added. Siddharth also informed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was not informed about the warning letter of Pushpa sales and the oxygen problem during his visit to the hospital on Aug 9. He also told that soon after the CM’s visit, the principal unannounced went for a leave without sanction.

Sidharth further informed that “August is the month when a lot of infections and vector-borne diseases and AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) cases come into BRD. Footfall is about 4,000-5,000 patients per day in BRD. The records of past four-five years show a death count of 20-odd daily in BRD August. I only explained this so as to not create a panic the way it is being created.”

Responding to the remark of the opposition that Sidharth Nath should take the responsibility and resign, just as his grandfather Lal Bahadur Shastri had as the Railway Minister after a train accident, he said that “I have no issues in taking moral responsibility but they are asking the wrong person. I am not the relevant minister.”