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61 children, mostly newborns and infants, dead in last 72 hours at Gorakhpur Hospital, State silent

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61 children, mostly newborns and infants, dead in last 72 hours at Gorakhpur Hospital, State silent

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]File photo of children admitted at encephalitis ward of BRD hospital, Gorakhpur

Baba Raghav Das (BRD) hospital, situated in chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s constituency, was recently in news when over 30 children admitted at the facility died within 48 hours due to disruption in oxygen supply

As many as 61 children – mostly newborns and infants – have been reported dead at Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Hospital in just the last 72 hours. This is the same medical facility – the biggest in Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s pocket borough which receives patients from 36 eastern UP districts, Bihar and Nepal – where over 30 children had died on August 10 and 11 due to disruption in the hospital’s oxygen supply.

The latest spate of deaths was reported on August 27, 28 and 29. Although the hospital is yet to officially declare the number of deaths and what caused them, local media reports claim that 11 children had died at the hospital’s encephalitis ward while 25 each had been reported dead from the neo-natal intensive care unit (NNICU) and the general pediatric ward.

61 children, mostly newborns and infants, dead in last 72 hours at Gorakhpur Hospital, State silent

The Adityanath government, which is already facing criticism for a total of 70 deaths of children at the hospital three weeks ago due to disruption of oxygen supply – a charge that it has steadfastly denied – has chosen to stay mum on the deaths reported over the past three days. Chief minister Adityanath and his health minister Sidharth Nath Singh, who are usually very vocal on social media platforms like Twitter, have not uttered a word on the latest tragedy, let alone offer any remedial measures. This, even as local doctors claimed that the death toll could rise further over the next few days.

Unofficially, hospital authorities have been telling media persons that the current spate of deaths has been caused due to encephalitis, health complexities in newborns, pneumonia, sepsis etc. According to a Hindustan Times report, the hospital has seen a substantial increase in patients suffering from encephalitis, water-borne  and vector-borne diseases over the past few weeks which has led to overcrowding.

A doctor at the encephalitis ward of the BRD hospital told local television news channels that the situation is set to get worse in coming days as eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal – the key areas from which patients pour in at the facility – “are still receiving heavy rainfall and are reeling under the effects of floods which has a direct correlation with the spread of encephalitis.” Due to the overcrowding, the doctor said: “we have been forced to accommodate as many as four patients on a single bed in the paediatric ward and the condition at other wards is similar”.

According to hospital records, this year till Monday at least 1,250 patients have died in the encephalitis and neonatal wards.

A ground report of the appalling situation at the BRD hospital that was published in a leading national daily on Wednesday quoted Dr RN Singh, a paediatrician, who has worked extensively in UP on encephalitis cases, saying: “Insufficient homework was done to control the outspread of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome… measures like fogging to kill mosquitoes, de-silting of water bodies, vaccination and chlorination of water were not done in time.”

A recent central panel probe into the mortality situation at the BRD hospital had found a severe shortage of medical staff in the neonatal and paediatric wards along with major lapses in maintaining basic hygiene standards. The inquiry had also revealed that only three of the over 30 nurses in the facility were trained to handle newborns.

When the earlier deaths of children were reported from the hospital on August 10 and 11 due to disruption in oxygen supply that was caused after the hospital management failed to settle a bill of Rs 60 lakh made out by the oxygen supply agency, the Adityanath government had claimed that the children had died due to encephalitis and other medical reasons. While it rejected the widely accepted theory that lack of oxygen had led to the deaths, the government did increase the number of doctors and paramedical staff at the hospital. The Centre and state government had both ordered multiple probes while an FIR was registered against nine persons, including Dr Rajiv Mishra (then BRD hospital principal) and his wife Dr Purnima Shukla, Dr Kafeel Khan and Uday Pratap Sharma of Pushpa Sales, the agency that supplied oxygen to the hospital.

On Tuesday, Dr Mishra and his wife Dr Purnima Shukla were arrested by the UP Special Task force from Kanpur over the child deaths earlier this month. Earlier, on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, the UP STF and police had raided the house of Dr Kafeel Khan but claimed that he was not present at home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

India hits back at Shehbaz Sharif at UN, says terror will have consequences

India hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech, with New Delhi warning that terrorism will have consequences.

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India has responded to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks at the United Nations, delivering a strong message on terrorism and warning that such actions will have consequences.

The response came after Mr Sharif addressed the UN and raised issues concerning India and Pakistan. New Delhi rejected the narrative presented by the Pakistani prime minister and highlighted the issue of terrorism.

India’s message was delivered by Petal Gehlot, who represented New Delhi in the response to Pakistan.

India warns Pakistan over terrorism

India’s response focused on Pakistan’s record and its approach towards terrorism. New Delhi made clear that terrorism cannot be separated from its consequences and that those responsible cannot expect such actions to go unanswered.

The Indian side also pushed back against the claims and allegations made by Mr Sharif during his UN speech.

The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, with terrorism remaining a major point of disagreement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif’s UN remarks

In his address, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke about India-Pakistan relations and raised several issues concerning New Delhi.

India subsequently exercised its right of reply to respond to Pakistan’s statements at the United Nations.

New Delhi’s response underlined its position that terrorism remains a serious issue in the relationship and that there would be consequences for terrorist actions.

The latest exchange at the UN adds to the continuing diplomatic confrontation between the two neighbouring countries.

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India News

Veeramani POCSO case: Vijay questions Stalin over earlier probe

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has questioned MK Stalin over the handling of the Veeramani POCSO case, while Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected anyone.

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Actor Vijay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay has questioned DMK president MK Stalin over the handling of the POCSO case involving Gem Granites founder R Veeramani. The political exchange follows renewed investigation into allegations involving minor girls.

Vijay’s remarks came as the ruling TVK stepped up its questions about how the case was handled during the previous DMK government. The party’s IT wing has alleged that the earlier investigation was weakened and questioned why a final report was filed.

The allegations have been rejected by the DMK. Stalin has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to protect anyone in the case and has called the allegations false and defamatory.

What did Vijay say about the Veeramani case?

Vijay questioned Stalin over the handling of the case and demanded an explanation from the former chief minister.

The TVK has specifically questioned why action was not taken against Veeramani during the previous administration and why the earlier investigation resulted in a closure report.

The party has also raised questions about the role of officials involved in the earlier investigation. These are political allegations made by the TVK and have not been established as facts.

What is the Veeramani POCSO case?

The case concerns allegations of sexual abuse of minors involving R Veeramani, the founder of Gem Granites.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after a special POCSO court rejected an earlier closure report and ordered further investigation. The expanded probe has subsequently identified additional alleged survivors who were minors at the time of the alleged offences, according to current reporting.

The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the earlier probe and whether there were any lapses in how the case was handled.

What has MK Stalin said?

Stalin has rejected allegations that the previous DMK government protected Veeramani.

He has said that no order was issued by the DMK government to shield anyone in the case. Stalin has also said that everyone responsible for the alleged offences, including anyone who aided or attempted to protect the accused, should face the law.

The DMK president has further said that the focus should remain on securing justice for the affected girls rather than making political allegations.

Why has the case become a political issue?

The Veeramani case has become the subject of a political dispute between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the earlier investigation.

The TVK is questioning the previous government’s handling of the case, while the DMK has denied that it intervened to protect the accused.

At this stage, claims about political interference or deliberate weakening of the earlier investigation should be treated as allegations unless established by the ongoing investigation or judicial proceedings.

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India News

Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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