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At least 63 children have died in the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur, the parliamentary constituency of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in the last five days.
According to reports, the probable causes of deaths are shortage of oxygen supply in the paediatrics ward and encephalitis.
Opposition leaders pointed fingers and blamed the state government for lapses.
The CM has directed the ministers to conduct a thorough probe into the matter and ensure strict action. While addressing the issue for the first time on Saturday, Adityanath said that not all deaths were due to shortage of oxygen.
Accusing the BJP government to be behind the deaths of the 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 into power”, he said.
Addressing a press conference, UP Health Minister Siddarth Nath Singh said that the deaths were not due to a lack in oxygen supply.
Slamming the hospital authorities, Singh also pulled them up for not having briefed the CM of the gas supply situation when he visited the hospital on 9 August.
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