Kolkata, July 01: An alarming case of 18 infants’ death in the last 36 hours has come to light from Kolkata’s BC Roy Hospital on Thurday June 30.
Family members alleged negligence on part of the hospital authorities. Police had to resort to lathicharge as the infuriated family members smashed hospital furniture and blocked a road for over an hour.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered probe to determine the cause of the deaths. The chief minister said that the report is expected within 24 hours.
The death of a nine-month-old Aryan Gazi triggered the family members to protest against the hospital authorities. Aryan’s father Hannan Gazi alleged that the doctor’s turned a deaf ear to his plea.
Superintendent of the hospital denied allegations saying that the babies were either brought in at the last stage or suffering from problems such as low birth weight or septicemia.
There were protests against the same hospital earlier in September 2004 when 14 children died of broncho-pneumonia and gastro-enteritis. Among them, four children died because there were no oxygen cylinders.
Ironically, the medical institute is considered to be the largest referral paediactric hospital in the eastern region.
–Agencies