Troopers assisted kin, authorities in BRD medical college: SSB
Gorakhpur: A paramilitary team on a training programme in a government-run hospital where at least 60 children died last week was pressed into action when news broke about the deaths, an official said.
Eleven members of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were undergoing pharmacy training in the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College hospital here on August 11.
As the SSB got to hear about the deaths, the troopers in the hospital were put on alert.
"Immediately, instructions were issued to them to extend all possible help to the administration," a senior SSB official said.
The troopers offered "emotional support" to the bereaved kin, he said.
A truck was also rushed to the hospital from the SSB center a few kilometers away when a doctor informed the force about the deaths and asked for a vehicle for emergency use.
"We immediately provided the hospital with a truck," SSB deputy inspector general Ranjeet Singh told PTI today.
State health minister Sidharth Nath Singh said 60 children had died of various diseases from August 7 to August 11 in the hospital.
At least 30 children died in 48 hours till August 11, district magistrate Rajeev Rautela said, but gave no explanations for a large number of deaths.
Initial reports said the deaths were caused by a shortage of oxygen supply, a claim rubbished by the state government.
