NHRC issues notice to UP on Gorakhpur deaths

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on the deaths of over 60 children in a government hospital in Gorakhpur and called for a detailed report.

It also asked for information about the steps taken for "relief and rehabilitation of the affected families" as well as the action taken against the guilty and gave it four weeks time to submit the report.

More than 60 children have died at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, which is Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's Lok Sabha constituency.

Infections and possible disruption of oxygen supply have been blamed for the deaths.

NHRC noted that this notice follows the suo motu cognizance taken of media reports hinting at negligence in the supply of liquid oxygen, which resulted in the tragedy.

"Reported deaths, in such a large number in a government run hospital, amount to serious violation of Right to Life and Health of the innocent victims," the commission said in a statement.

"This indicates towards gross callousness on part of the hospital administration and the Medical Education and Health Department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh."

Earlier also several instances of deaths in the hospitals due to Japanese Encephalitis have been reported, it said.

"In spite of assurance given by the state administration, the situation has not improved."

"The private firm, contracted to supply liquid oxygen to the hospital, stopped the supplies, as it was not paid the outstanding dues of almost Rs 70 lakh and the result was tragic deaths of about 60 children," it said.