About two months after deaths of children at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur created a national uproar, leading to the arrest of the institution’s principal, a doctor and other staff, the number of deaths at the hospital continue to remain high.

last 24 hours 19 died

Nineteen children have died at the hospital in the last 24 hours — 13 neonatal (newborn) deaths, and six others suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), according to BRD Medical College principal P K Singh. Sixty-nine deaths have reported at the hospital in the four days since October 7.

In the second week of August, 60 deaths reported over five days. “Most of these deaths are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to various reasons — such as pneumonia, septicemia, asphyxia, etc,” college principal Singh said. He said a large number of newborns in critical condition are coming to the hospital from far-off places.

“118 children admitted at NICU at present, of which 13 died due to different medical reasons,” Singh said. “There are 333 patients admitted in the pediatric ward.” Of these 333 patients, 109 children suffering from AES, he said.

Shortage of oxygen supply

According to hospital records, the number of patients admitted varied between 333 and 360 over the last four days, and the number of deaths varied from 12 to 20 each day. According to records, 12 children died on October 7, 20 on October 8, 18 died on October 9, and 19 deaths reported on October 10. Asked about these deaths, Singh maintained, “Most of these deaths are in NICU due to various medical reasons, and the rest are due to AES.”

The deaths in August had grabbed national attention after reports that the hospital faced shortage of oxygen supply at the time. Although the state government had denied that the deaths due to oxygen shortage, action taken against the then college principal, in-charge of the particular ward as well as clerks and the pharmacist for negligence.

An FIR lodged against them, as well as the supplier of liquid oxygen to the hospital, and all the accused have arrested.