Earlier this month, over 60 children had died due to disruption in oxygen supply over alleged nonpayment of dues in Gorakhpur’s BRD Hospital. Soon, one Dr. Kafeel Khan was hailed as a hero for his quick thinking to save lives of children. However, there was more to it than what met the eyes in Dr. Khan’s story. Even as investigation progressed, it left us with more questions than answers.
The high power committee that was set up to probe the tragedy has submitted the report to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The UP CM on Tuesday removed additional chief secretary (Medical Education) Anita Bhatnagar Jain and ordered that FIR be lodged against over half a dozen persons, including former hospital principal Rajeev Mishra, who has been suspended. The charges in FIR to include negligence and culpable homicide (not amounting to murder).
The report says that the children died due to disruption in oxygen supply while the state government has maintained that the reason for death was not lack of oxygen supply but different illnesses including Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
A case of bribery is also filed against Pushpa Sales Agency, the agency which supplied oxygen to the hospital, former principal, Dr. Rajeev Misra and his wife Purnima Shukla. A case is also registered against Dr. Kafeel Khan for running a private practice alongside his duties at the government hospital.