Kota tragedy: 10 newborns die in 48 hours; Rajasthan CM orders probe

Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed Kota district collector and Secretary, Health Education Department to conduct a probe into the matter which claims 10 children deaths in the last 48 hours.

Jaipur: Days after complaints of shortage of life-saving equipment at Kota's JK Lon Hospital, which might have resulted in deaths of 77 children in the hospital in the last one month, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said that a team has been sent to Kota to look into the deaths.

He said strict action will be taken against those found guilty. Hospital sources said 77 children died in December alone while 10 died on Monday and Tuesday.

Gehlot has given instructions to medical education secretary Vaibhav Galeria to visit Kota and submit a detailed report on an urgent basis.

"The chief minister has taken this issue very seriously and hence, I am here to find out the reason for neonatal deaths. A special committee will investigate if there were hygienic or clinical issues behind the death of these kids. Besides, all other issues will also be taken up," Galeria said after visiting Kota.

Rajasthan child rights Commission orders probe into the death of 77 children at Kota Hospital

Meanwhile, Rajasthan child rights commission have taken cognizance of the matter. "The president of Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken strong cognizance of the matter and has ordered Secretary, Health Education Department and District Collector Kota to conduct a high-level enquiry and apprise the Commission about it at earliest," said a release from the commission.

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According to reports, ten newborns have died in 48 hours at a maternal and child hospital in Kota. According to a hospital official, 77 deaths have taken place in December.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also expressed concern over the death of 10 newborns in 48 hours at a hospital in Kota and called upon the Ashok Gehlot government to take immediate action in this matter.

"The untimely death of 10 newborns in 48 hours at a maternal and child hospital in Kota is a matter of concern. Rajasthan government should take immediate action in this matter," said Birla, who is also MP from Kota.

The state government has rushed senior officials and doctors to look into the matter. "We have sent senior officials and doctors. We are looking into the matter," CM Gehlot said in Jaipur on Friday.

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