Gorakhpur tragedy: Oxygen shortage wasn't reported, guilty to face strict action, says UP govt

According to the official Twitter account of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (@CMOfficeUP), Yogi Adityanath has directed that a detailed probe be conducted into the incident and strict action

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday said stringent action will be taken against those found guilty in the high number of death of infants in Gorakhpur's state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College.

However, state health minister Siddharth Nath Singh had said according to reports from the pediatric department of the college, 63 children had died due to various diseases since August 7.

"Whosoever is found guilty in the tragic and painful incident at Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur will certainly face stringent action," deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya told reporters here on Saturday.

According to the official Twitter account of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (@CMOfficeUP), Yogi Adityanath has directed that a detailed probe be conducted into the incident and strict action be ensured.

#UPCM श्री #YogiAdityanath ने मौके की गहन जांच कर सख्त कार्रवाई सुनिश्चित करने के निर्देश दिए।

— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) August 12, 2017

Meanwhile, Singh and Medical Education minister Ashutosh Tandon left for Gorakhpur to take stock of the situation at the medical college.

Before leaving for Gorakhpur, Singh said, "The chief minister was not informed by the doctors and officials about shortage of oxygen neither on July 9 nor on August 9.

"The shortage of oxygen was not highlighted. The medical education minister was also not briefed about it. Appropriate action will be taken keeping these points in mind and a probe will be done," he said here.

Tandon said, "The chief minister is keeping a close watch on the entire issue. We will take appropriate action after investigating all aspects."

PTI