Three newborns undergoing treatment at state-run B.R. Ambedkar hospital in Raipur have died after an alleged drop in oxygen pressure.
It is reported that the operator who is in-charge of the oxygen supply was in an inebriated state while on duty and has been subsequently suspended.
Chief Minister Raman Singh has ordered a probe into the death of the children, reported news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested the oxygen cylinder operator.
Subsequently, the hospital authorities, however, claimed that there was no shortage of oxygen supply.
Director, Health Services, R. Prasanna stated that, "Yesterday there was a drop in oxygen pressure; there was no cut in the oxygen supply. Immediately, when there was a drop in pressure, information was given to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Medical Superintendent, who immediately intervened and sorted the issue. The death of children is due to illness whose information will be shared shortly."
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Officials told News18 that the babies did not die because of a shortage of oxygen. They alleged that the operator, Ravi Chandra, was drunk and did not release the gas in the emergency and nursing wards.
According to the report, the operator Ravi Chandra slept during his time of monitoring due to which oxygen supply in the emergency ward was stopped killing three children surviving on ventilators.
The incident is a disturbing reminder of the Gorakhpur tragedy when more than 60 children lost their lives in state-run BRD hospital in Gorakhpur, allegedly because of lack of oxygen supply. The state government however, stood by its claims that the children died due to encephalitis.
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Further details awaited
