Four more children die at Kashmir's G B Pant Hospital,toll 363

, May 19: Four more children died overnight at the G B Pant Hospital here, taking the crib

toll at Kashmir's only pediatric hospital to 363 this year. The infants died at the hospital during the intervening night, official sources said on Saturday.

Soon after the deaths, attendants and relatives of patients staged a protest outside the hospital premises and blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by placing bodies of the dead infants on the road. The traffic police had a harrowing time diverting all vehicles, approaching or leaving the city.

The deaths took place two days after the government ordered an inquiry into the high number of infant deaths at the hospital. Medical Superintendent Javed Chaudhury was transferred and attached to the Medical Education department after a preliminary inquiry pointed out lack of efficient management. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the hospital on Friday, said measures to improve the situation have already been taken and a difference will be visible within a week.

PTI