Fire Guts Records of Kids Who Died at Gorakhpur Hospital in 2017

SP alleged that the fire was started to destroy files related to ‘Gorakhpur oxygen scam’ deaths of over 30 children.

The fire that broke out at Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Hospital on 8 January is suspected to have destroyed several documents, including files relating to the case where over 20 children died at the facility due to an oxygen shortage in 2017.

Crucial documents were feared destroyed as a major fire, that broke out at 10 am, gutted the principal's office and an adjacent record room of the state-run hospital, the fire department said. The blaze caused extensive damage to property, but no loss of life was reported, officials added.

SP North, Ganesh Saha, told reporters: “Prima facie it seems that the fire was due to a short-circuit but the real reason will be revealed only after probe”. Chief fire service officer, DK Singh, said, "A committee headed by me will find out the reasons behind the fire. The fire was controlled with an hour."

Dr Ganesh Kumar, the principal of the college, was on leave at the time of the incident.

District Magistrate Rajiv Routela has asked ADM city, Rajneesh Chandra, to probe the matter and submit a report.

Files Destroyed in Blaze

A doctor from the college told PTI:

The fire destroyed huge number of documents. Even the file related to the oxygen case was kept in the principal’s office, which I fear is destroyed.

Baba Raghav Das Hospital doctor

SP district president Prahlad Yadav was quoted as saying that the fire was “mysterious”. He said he suspected the fire was an act of sabotage aimed at destroying vital documents related to the provision of oxygen to the hospital, and files pertaining to short supply.

The BRD Medical College made headlines in August 2017 when 69 children, including infants, died within a span of four days when the supply of oxygen was allegedly disrupted due to non-payment of dues to the vendor.

The state government has, however, vehemently denied that shortage of oxygen led to the deaths.

(With inputs from PTI)

(This is a developing story and will be updated)