Srinagar:
Another baby died today at the state-run GB Pant Hospital in Srinagar, taking the number of infant deaths in the state in the last two weeks to 36. According to Medical Education Minister RS Chib, a total of 358 children have died at the hospital since January 1 this year.
There were protests in Srinagar over the alarming number of infant deaths after which the state government ordered an investigation into the matter. The investigation panel will be headed by Showkat Ali Zargar, who is the director of the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura (SKIMS). Mr Zargar has been asked to submit his report within a week.
Leading the protests against the government outside the GB Pant Hospital today was Engineer Rashid, an Independent MLA from north Kashmir's Langate constituency. Mr Rashid slammed the government over alleged lack of basic amenities at the hospital and urged the Chief Minister to intervene.
"We want the government to reply. For 1,700 patients, the hospital has just three ventilators. On Friday, I will lodge an FIR (first information report) against the doctors in connection with the deaths," he said. "It is nothing short of a mass murder," he added.
Minister RS Chib has said that the probe will find out if negligence on behalf of the officials of the hospital led to the deaths. He has also assured help on behalf of the state government.
"We are examining the reasons and trying to find out corrective measures so that precious lives can be saved. If ventilators are in shortage at the hospital, more will be procured and the nursing staff will be increased," he said on Wednesday.