Gorakhpur hospital deaths: Tragedy continues as 42 kids die in 48 hours

42 children have died in the ill-famed BRD hospital in Gorakhpur due to various diseases. The hospital was in news earlier this month because of children deaths due to lack of oxygen. Police have arrested the ex-principal of the medical college who was earlier suspended for negligence.

Despite police investigations and medical enquiries, death of children in Gorakhpur's BRD medical college continues unabated. Till now 42 children have died in the last 48 hours, taking the death toll in the city to 60. While 7 children are said to have died of encephalitis, other reasons have been cited for other deaths. 

Uttar Pradesh's Special Task Force took into custody the former principal of the government-run BRD Medical college in Gorakhpur Rajiv Misra and his wife for questioning them regarding the death of the 72 children earlier this month. Both of them had gone underground after a case was registered against them. Their phones were switched off. According to Gorakhpur SSP, Anirudh Siddharth Pankaj, a police team was also sent to question Dr Kafeel Khan, former nodal officer and in charge of the encephalitis department who was suspended after the deaths. However, he was not home.

Meanwhile, Misra and his wife Purnima Shukla were picked up from Kanpur, where they had reportedly gone to consult a lawyer. The team then left for Gorakhpur to carry out further investigation. Misra had been suspended as the principal of the institute the very same day and he resigned immediately taking moral responsibility for the incident.