Gorakhpur tragedy: Three more kids die in hospital; CM Yogi talks of 'exemplary action'

According to a report furnished by Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das Medical College, three more children died in the hospital on Sunday. The toll has now risen to 48.

On August 10, 2017, 38 children had died due to a sudden oxygen supply disruption. Reportedly, the hospital had defaulted on the oxygen supplier's bills despite several notices from the vendor.

Raids were also conducted at a Lucknow-based firm that had stopped supply of oxygen to the hospital.

"34 children died on August 10-11, eleven on August 11-12 and three on August 12-13. A total 48 of children and 23 adults have died since August 10 till date (August 13). Over 160 children have died between August 1 and 13," a press release from the UP hospital claims.

The hospital release also cites Acute Encephalitis Syndrome as the reason for most of these deaths.

Five-year-old Sumit Yadav died just half an hour before UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit at the hopsital on Sunday afternoon.

His father, Bikhari Yadav, alleged that he was handed over his son's body hurriedly by the hospital staff.

He alleged that he was asked to leave the hospital without any ambulance to take the body home.

"I was not even allowed to hire a cab. The police forced me to get out of the hospital quickly and said, 'Chief Minister sahib aane wale hain' (Chief Minister sir is about to arrive'. I walked on foot with my son's dead body in my hands along with my wife," he said.

Parents and relatives were not provided ambulances to carry bodies of their children despite directions from CM Adityanath to make the ambulances availabe free of cost.