Gorakhpur: Last year, nearly 60 children died in Uttar Pradesh’s state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College allegedly due to disruption in supply of liquid oxygen. Now, with one year on, the Samajwadi Party on Friday accused the government in the state of encouraging corrupt practices.

The hospital in which the tragedy occurred is Baba Raghav Das Medical College which is run under the government of UP.

“Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says his government has zero tolerance for corruption. But in his home town, BRD Medical College is involved in a scam of Rs. 5 lakh per month in purchase of liquid oxygen,” SP district president Prahlad Yadav said.

“During previous governments, the medical college used to purchase liquid oxygen at the rate of Rs. 16.50 per litre. After August 10 last year, the hospital started purchasing liquid oxygen directly from a company in Rajasthan at the rate of Rs. 19.39 per litre.” Mr Yadav said.

“The consumption of liquid oxygen at the college is from 1.20 lakh to 1.50 lakh litre liquid oxygen gas per month. During peak months like August, the consumption is even more,” he added, alleging a scam of around Rs. 5 lakh per month.

When he was inquired about the source of information, Mr. Yadav had none in reply.

“We have our sources and we know it. If government wants to say something, they should come out with proof to deny the allegations made by us.”

Not less than 60 children, most of them being infants, died at the hospital premises within a span of a week in August 2017. As per the allegations the deaths occurred due to disruption in oxygen supply as the authorities did not pay up bills to the vendor. The state government’s stance was that the shortage of oxygen did not led to the deaths.

The president of the district also said that the government in the state was not coming forward to make the hospital data public and maintained strict secrecy. Earlier, during the previous Akhilesh Yadav government, the hospital authorities were given directions to release data related to admission, death and recovery by 4 pm every day.

To get some inquiry regarding the issue the BJP Mahanagar president Rahul Srivastav was asked about the issue, he said, “All allegations made by the SP leader are baseless. The rates (of liquid oxygen) have increased due to GST.”

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