2017 Gorakhpur hospital deaths

2017 Gorakhpur hospital deaths

Location of Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh

The 2017 Gorakhpur hospital deaths refer to a tragic event that took place at the state-run BRD Medical College hospital in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Throughout the year, a total of 1,317 children lost their lives at the hospital. The incident gained national attention in August when 63 children died due to the hospital's piped oxygen supply running out.

The deaths were primarily caused by Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), with 175 children succumbing to the disease by August 29, 2017. The number of child deaths in previous years were also alarmingly high, with 5,850 in 2014, 6,917 in 2015, and 6,121 in 2016.

Investigations revealed that government negligence played a significant role in the avoidable deaths. The oxygen supply was cut by the supplier due to long non-payment of dues. Despite repeated requests and warnings, the Yogi Adityanath-led government failed to clear the dues, leading to heavy criticism. One year after the incident, the families of the victims had not received compensation or visits from state government officials.

The 2017 Gorakhpur hospital deaths serve as a tragic reminder of the importance of adequate healthcare infrastructure and prompt government action in preventing such avoidable tragedies.