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After Gorakhpur, now 49 infants die in UP’s state-run Farrukhabad hospital

Published

9 years ago

on

Gorakhpur

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Like the initial spate of deaths at Gorakhpur’s BRD hospital, lack of oxygen suspected to be the cause of death, probe ordered

In yet another evidence of Uttar Pradesh government’s apathy towards the state’s healthcare system, as many as 49 infants have been reported dead over a span of one month at the state-run Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in Farrukhabad due to disruption in oxygen supply.

The deaths that took place between July 21 and August 20 but have only come to light now, are a grim reminder of the incident at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) hospital in the state’s Gorakhpur district where over 60 children were reported dead within five days in early-August due to lack of oxygen supply.

With investigations still on amid a continuing spate of death of newborns and infants at the BRD hospital – which is the biggest medical facility in chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s pocket borough – the Farrukhabad tragedy comes as another embarrassment for the state’s BJP government which has been trying hard to gloss over its negligence and culpability in the Gorakhpur episode.

As had happened when the first spate of deaths was reported from the BRD hospital between August 9 and 11, the incident at Farrukhabad’s RML hospital has triggered the police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) for negligence. Farrukhabad’s District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar had ordered a probe into the incident after 19 of his notices to the hospital authorities went unheeded.

A report in the Hindustan Times quoted Kumar as indicating that negligence by the RML hospital’s staff led to the deaths.

“The probe ordered by Kumar and conducted by City Magistrate, Jayendra Kumar Jain and Sub-divisional Magistrate Ajit Kumar Singh has confirmed that the deaths were caused due to shortage of oxygen supply at the hospital,” news agency PTI quoted the DM as saying while adding that “FIR was registered against the CMO and CMS for their alleged laxity.”

Of the 49 deaths that died at the RML hospital, 30 were admitted to the sick newly-born care unit (SNCU) while 19 were reported dead at the time of delivery or soon after. Various media organisations who visited the hospital to report on the tragedy have maintained that shortage of oxygen supply at the hospital was the principal cause of these deaths, a charge that has so far been denied by hospital authorities.

Dr Kailash Kumar, SNCU in-charge at the hospital told reporters that a majority of the infants who had died were either born prematurely or were gross underweight and claimed that: “Mortality in such children is quite high. Often, we get children who weigh less than a kilo or two kilos.” He also blamed delay in referral from primary health care to the hospital for the deaths.

Meanwhile, the spate of deaths of newborns and infants at the BRD hospital has continued with 16 more children reported dead on August 31 alone. The hospital had lost 61 newborns and infants within 72 hours between August 29 and 31, taking the death toll at the hospital beyond 300 within just one month.

After the initial spate of deaths in early-August which were blamed on disruption of oxygen supply by various inquiry panels, the BRD hospital authorities have stuck to a common array of problems being the trigger for subsequent deaths – acute encephalitis, sepsis, complexities during delivery of the child, etc.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

13 hours ago

on

August 16, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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India News

IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

Published

2 days ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Published

2 days ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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