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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]

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Uttar Pradesh on high alert after gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari death, probe ordered on poisoned in jail charge

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed across the state.

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Several towns in Uttar Pradesh are on high alert and security has been strengthened after jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest. His family alleged that the gangster, who has been in jail since 2005, was poisoned. 

The jailed gangster was hurried to a hospital after he fell unconscious at district jail on Thursday night. After a few hours, he was declared dead by the doctors at the Rani Durgavati Medical College. 

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed across the state. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has also been called in to assist the police. Reportedly, the CRPF units have already been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi.

Additionally, the social media cell of the Uttar Pradesh Police is also on high alert to track unlawful elements that may try to spark a riot. Furthermore, a magisterial investigation into the death of Mukhtar Ansari will be carried out by a three member team, reports said.

A former five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat Muktar Ansari, had 60 criminal cases pending against him. The gangster turned politician was sentenced in eight cases since September 2022 by different courts of Uttar Pradesh and was lodged in the Banda jail.

Earlier, the former five-time MLA from Mau submitted an application in Barabanki court, alleging he was given some poisonous substance along with his food. He claimed that on March 19, his nerves and limbs started paining after he consumed the food.

Muktar Ansari was born into a family with deep roots in the independence struggle. His grandfather served as the Indian National Congress president in 1927. He was initially affiliated with the Bahujan Samaj Party before forming the Quami Ekta Dal (QED) after being expelled.

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Delhi LG VK Saxena directs probe into remarks against Kangana Ranaut by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

The Delhi Police will investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose.

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Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today sought a detailed probe from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in relation with the alleged defamatory social media post made by Congress’s Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG seeking probe and registration of an FIR against Shrinate for outraging the modesty of a woman. Subsequently, the Delhi LG has forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, directing a scientific investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary.

Reports said that the Delhi Police will also investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose. A major controversy erupted on Monday after an objectionable post from Supriya Shrinate’s social media handle against Kangana Ranaut, who has been announced as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Responding to the remarks, Kangana Ranaut said that they must free the daughters from the shackles of prejudices and must rise above the curiosity about their body parts. She added that people must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur. She concluded that every woman deserves her dignity. As the controversy intensified, the Congress leader asserted that someone else had posted the objectionable content from her handle. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut. The Election Commission observed that the remarks are undignified and in a bad taste. The election body asked the Congress leader to respond to the commission by Friday. In the notice, the Election Commission stated that the statements made by the leader is prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

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Bollywood actor Govinda joins Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now.

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Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In 2004 Govinda contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the nickname of a giant slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. He resigned from the party and said that he had decided to take a break from politics.

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now. He said his parents had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hedge met the Bollywood actor at his residence in Juhu. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the actor’s joining the Shiv Sena does not come with a rider. Govinda said whatever work is assigned to him, he will do it to the best of the ability. He said he was a part of the 14th Lok Sabha and has returned to politics after 14 years.

Speaking about his role in politics, the actor said he would transform the film city of Mumbai. He did not reply when he was asked about contesting elections. Govinda said everybody has seen the same level of progress in Maharashtra in the last 2 years, as it has been seen in the country in the last 10 years. He said he is going to focus on the beautification of the state and work towards the growth of art and culture.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora welcomed Govida into the party and said he has known the veteran Bollywood actor for almost 25 years. He recalled the 2004 election and said both of them had fought elections together.

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