Sixty children died between August 7 and 11 in BRD Hospital, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. While 30 died in two days (August 10 and 11), allegedly due to lack of oxygen following non-supply of cylinders by the contractor for non-payment of dues, 12 died due to AES (acute encephalitis syndrome) and the remaining due to other causes, the hospital said.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's office, Narendra Modi is in touch with the Central and State authorities . Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is on his way to the hospital.
Here are the latest updates:
New acting principal appointed
A day after sacking BRD Medical College principal R.K. Mishra , the U.P. government has appointed P.K. Singh as the acting principal.
This is in addition to his position as principal of Mahamaya Rajkiya Allopathic Medical College in Ambedkar Nagar.
CM heads to hospital
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is on his way to the Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, which is also his constituency, following the death of 60 children.
Union Minister for Health J.P. Nadda will accompany Mr. Adityanath, said U.P. Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh.
Mr. Singh and State Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tandon visited the hospital on Saturday and submitted their report to the Chief Minister.
Emergency meet
Mr. Adityanath held an emergency meet on Saturday evening with Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel and the two Cabinet Ministers — Mr. Singh and Mr. Tandon.
Ms. Patel and the Health Secretary were scheduled to visit the hospital on Sunday to take stock of the situation, following a directive by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
