Gorakhpur tragedy: Allahabad HC raps UP govt, seeks response within 6 weeks on children death

The Allahabad High Court on Friday rapped the Uttar Pradesh government over Gorakhpur tragedy in which at least 30 kids died in 48 hours at Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College's Nehru Hospital on August 10 and 11.

Hearing the PIL, the court sought a response from Uttar Pradesh government within six weeks on the death of children.

The PIL filed by Suneeta Sharma, an advocate, and Kamlesh Singh, a social worker, the PIL seeks judicial enquiry in the matter so that the true facts emerge and guilty do not remain unpunished. The PIL also prays for issuing directions to the State government so that such incidents do not happen again.

The court also asked the state government about the steps taken so far.

One more child on Thursday died in Baba Raghav Das Medical College hospital, apparently due to encephalitis, raising to 72 the number of deaths in the hospital since August 7.

Six encephalitis-related deaths were reported between August 12 and August 14, while five encephalitis-related deaths were reported from August 15 to August 16.

Amid demand for action against ministers for Gorakhpur tragedy, an inquiry report has blamed the absence of doctors and the supplier for oxygen shortage at Baba Raghav Das (BRD) hospital.

The report also raised a question about the absence of the then principal Dr RK Mishra and head of the anaesthesia department,Dr Satish Kumar.