UP hospital tragedy: Deaths act of 'carelessness', PIL seeks judicial probe

Allahabad: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday seeking a judicial inquiry into the recent deaths at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Hospital in Gorakhpur where over 70 children have lost their lives since August 7.

Filed by Suneeta Sharma, an advocate, and Kamlesh Singh, a social worker, the PIL is likely to be taken up for hearing before a bench on Thursday.

The petitioners have blamed the deaths on "carelessness" of the doctors at the hospital and further contended that although encephalitis claims many young lives every year there were no effective measures to contain the outbreak of the vector-borne disease.

The petitioners also prayed for directions so that stern punishment was meted out to those held responsible for the deaths.

The filing of PIL comes in line after Gorakhpur District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela in his report blamed oxygen supplier Pushpa Sales, hospital Principal R K Mishra and Anesthesia Department head Dr Satish for the tragedy.

Rautela's report has also held the Oxygen Purchasing Committee President responsible in matter.

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh earlier on Wednesday stated that it's a clear case of criminal negligence, if someone dies due to disruption in oxygen supply, adding that when Gorakhpur tragedy probe result comes, culprits won't be spared.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has outrightly blamed Mishra, for laxity in performing his duty.

He also said that a team of top ministers was asked to determine if the death of the children was actually due to a disruption in oxygen supply at the hospital and assured to "not spare anyone found guilty".