Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Central and State authorities following the death of at least 30 children at a government hospital in Uttar Pradesh, a statement from his office said on Saturday.
“Prime Minister Modi is being regularly updated on the situation,” said an official from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel and the Union Health Secretary have been asked to take stock of the situation in Gorakhpur, the PMO said.
Black mark
The deaths of the children is a black mark against the State government, led by Yogi Adityanath, especially since he has represented Gorakhpur in the Lok Sabha for nearly two decades.
The BJP won a massive majority in the U.P. Assembly in March and this crisis has raised questions on the competence of the administration.
This is the third instance of the Prime Minister’s intervention in crises in BJP-ruled States. Mr. Modi intervened after the Patidar agitation broke out in Gujarat in 2015, broadcasting an appeal for peace, and in the farmer’s agitation in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh earlier this year, holding extensive meetings with Union Ministers and dispatching Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to ease matters.
Paswan’s concern
Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan meanwhile expressed shock over the death of infants in Gorakhpur.
“Heart wrenching. I am unable to sleep for the last two days. I will speak to Yogi ji [Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath] that strong action must be taken,” he said.
