The Uttar Pradesh Government does not ruled out dispute between the officials and the contractor over ‘commission’ payment that might have led to the shortage of oxygen cylinders, snuffing out the lives of scores of children at Gorakhpur’s BRD Medical College and Hospital on August 11.
“I do not deny that payment of commission could be the reason behind the shortage of oxygen at the Gorakhpur hospital. The probe is on under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Rajiv Kumar and the truth will be out very soon,” said Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharthnath Singh in Allahabad on Monday.
Interestingly, when the tragedy had shocked the nation, the Health Minister had said the lack of oxygen supply was not the reason behind the death of children.
“Anyone found guilty would not be spared. We have already suspended the principal of the hospital finding him
prima facie guilty in the controversy,” the Minister said.
The supplier had stopped the supply of oxygen on August 10 after the BRD Medical College did not pay over Rs 68 lakh dues to the company.
The medical college had Rs 1.86 crore in its account and Rs 2 crore was sent to the hospital on August 4 but the payment was made only on August 11 after 33 children died for lack of oxygen.
Singh on Saturday told the media that from 2014 to 2016 every year in August 19 and 22 children had died on an average in the BRD but in the first 11 days of August 2017 around 10 children died per day.
Singh’s statement had irked the Opposition and BSP president Mayawati and SP president Akhilesh Yadav condemned it.
Meanwhile, toeing the State Government line a three-member team of doctors from New Delhi said interruption of oxygen supply was not the reason behind the death of 33 children on August 11 at the hospital.
Talking to media persons, the doctors’ team comprising assistant commissioner Dr M K Agarwal, Paediatric department head of Safadarganj Hospital, New Delhi, Dr Harish Chelani and Neo Natal Department HOD, lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi, Dr Shushma Nangiya said deaths due to interruption in oxygen supply in Gorakhpur is “technically incorrect”.
Dr Nangiya said the team has analysed the deaths of children till August 12 in two spans: First from August 1 to 6 and second from August 7 to 12. Graph of deaths has not increased in both cases. She said number of patients this year is less as compared to previous years. Also, 138 deaths had occurred last year during this time but this year the number is 134.
Dr Harish Chelani said circumstances suggest that number of deaths was not unexpectedly high. He said oxygen is only support system its shortage cannot be cause of deaths.
Dr Agarwal said the team will send its detailed report to the Health Ministry.