LUCKNOW: The report of magisterial probe into BRD medical college tragedy in Gorakhpur may stir a hornet’s nest as it has hinted at the dubious role of senior doctors, mismanagement in wards and lack of coordination among the team of doctors at helm and disruption in oxygen supply by the firm Pushpa Sales.
The tragedy had claimed over 30 lives in 48 hours between August 9 and 11.
Further more, the reports also indicate overwriting in the log book related to purchase and refilling of oxygen cylinders at the tragedy-hit hospital.
The magisterial inquiry report submitted by Gorakhpur district magistrate Rajiv Rautela has questioned the uninformed absence of principal Dr R K Mishra and Dr Satish on the night despite being fully aware of the scarcity of oxygen in the wards.
Dr Kumar was responsible to supervise the regulated flow of oxygen to different wards.
At least 30 kids died in 48 hours at the BRD Medical College’s Nehru Hospital on August 10 and August 11. Oxygen supply which dipped at 11:30 pm on August 10 could be restored only on August 11. However, the state government had denied disruption in oxygen supply as the reason for deaths. Even the report, too, is silent on the issue.
According to the report, Satish Kumar and chief pharmacist Gajanan Jaiswal were never particular over maintaining the record of the purchase of oxygen cylinders. Dr Kumar had inspected the log book hardly. He had never ever signed it either.
"There are multiple instances of overwriting in the stock book of oxygen cylinder at the BRD hospital,” the report said.
The report also blames Pushpa Sales for disrupting the supply.
“Considering the life-saving nature of the supply, it shouldn’t have done it,” the report says.
"While principal Dr RK Mishra was not in the office on August 10, Dr Satish went to Mumbai without informing anyone" the report states adding that had Dr Kumar brought the issue of oxygen scarcity to the knowledge of others, the problem could have been sorted out in time.
The report also holds the total lack of coordination among the principal, CMS Rama Shankar Shukla, paediatrics department head Dr Mahima Mittal and nodal officer of encephalitis ward Dr Kafeel Ahmad as another reason for the unfortunate incident. While principal Dr Mishra stands suspended, Ahmad has been removed from the nodal officer’s position.
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