Cong asks 'Who killed them?' as 2017 Gorakhpur tragedy doctor cleared

Slamming the UP government for not accepting responsibility to the 2017 Gorakhpur Hospital tragedy, Congress, on Friday, questioned that as Dr. Kafeel Khan had been given a clean-chit, who would the state pin the blame on. Taking to Twitter, the party's official handle asked whether the UP government would accept its negligence in the death of 63 children due to lack of oxygen. The party asked UP CM Adityanath to answer - 'Who killed our children?'. The party noted that the state government's probe report had found no evidence of medical, neglect, corruption and that Dr. Khan was not responsible for the maintenance tender for oxygen or the encephalitis ward.

Congress asks 'Who responsible for deaths then'?

READ : UP doctor given clean chit by govt in 2017 Gorakhpur hospital tragedy

Dr. Kafeel Khan given clean-chit

Earlier in the day, a UP government inquiry, on Friday, has given a clean chit to Dr. Kafeel Khan in the case. Dr Khan was suspended following the death of children in the hospital in August 2017. This development came two years after 70 infants died at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur. Investigating Officer of the case, Principal Secretary, Stamp, and Registration, Himanshu Kumar, said that Dr Khan has been given a clean chit in the case.

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UP govt denied child death due to non-payment

Meanwhile, the UP government has stoutly refused the charge that the infants had died allegedly because of disruption in oxygen supply due to pending payments to the supplier. The government has maintained that the children died due to different illnesses, including Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and there was no shortage of oxygen.

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Report reveals reason for child-deaths

As per the investigation report, Dr Khan was neither the nodal medical officer in charge of encephalitis wards at BRD nor documents contesting the same provided by the department were adequate and consistent. The report also states that Dr Khan was not involved in the process of allotting tenders for oxygen supply amounting to corruption, or medical negligence on his part on the day of the tragedy. The report also says that Dr Khan informed seniors about shortage of oxygen supply and arranged seven oxygen cylinders on the night of August 10-11, 2017.

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(With PTI Inputs)