Three newborns undergoing treatment at the State-run Dr BR Ambedkar Hospital in Raipur died on Sunday night after an alleged drop in oxygen supply levels in the special new born care unit.
However, a State Government statement has denied any cut made in oxygen supply to the unit which is being believed as the reason for the death of the three newborns.
R Prasanna, Commissioner Health Services, told reporters here that when the oxygen levels had dropped, on duty doctors raised an alarm and immediately remedied the problem.
"Yesterday there was a drop in oxygen pressure but there was no cut in oxygen supply. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Hospital Superintendent immediately intervened and sorted out the issue. The death of newborns was due to illness," he said.
The hospital has, however, suspended an Operator who is In-charge of providing oxygen supply to the Unit, after he was found in an inebriated condition while on duty.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raman Singh has ordered a probe and expressed grief over the death of newborns.
The Secretary of Health and Commissioner of Health Services reached the hospital after the incident and are monitoring the situation.
Among the victims was a five-day-old baby who was suffering from a heart condition. The boy's father, Prakash Vishwakarma, a resident of Balaghat in Madhya Pradesh, said his child had a hole in his heart.