Thaindian News

Kolkata, June 30 (IANS) At least 18 children have died of various causes in a state-run hospital in Kolkata since Wednesday, a hospital official said Thursday. Relatives of the dead children have alleged negligence on the part of doctors.

“Twelve children died Wednesday. Six died today (Thursday),” B.C. Roy Children’s Hospital principal Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee told IANS over phone.

Chatterjee said all the patients, aged between a few days and a few months, were admitted in critical condition to the hospital.

“These children were mostly underweight, some of them had septicaemia and breathing problems,” said a hospital official.

Wailing and angry parents and relatives of the victims ransacked a portion of the hospital. A large police contingent was later posted at the hospital by the authorities.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has set up a committee to enquire into the deaths and said the guilty would not be spared. She confirmed 12 deaths till Wednesday night.

“I don’t have the reports but till now 12 children have died. A committee has been formed to inquire into the matter. Those found guilty will not be spared,” said Banerjee at the state secretariat.

“I have called the head of department (of the hospital) and asked him to file a report explaining the deaths of so many children. It’s a very unfortunate happening. Anybody found guilty will be given exemplary punishment,” said Banerjee.

She also blamed the erstwhile Left Front regime of neglecting the medical infrastructure. “There is no medical infrastructure. Incidents like this have happened earlier also. But the infrastructure cannot be overhauled so quickly. There are procedures to follow for procurement of new machines which are time consuming.”

However, she assured that her government has chalked up short and mid-term plans to revamp the medical infrastructure.