Rajasthan: Infants deaths in Kota hospitals rise to 104

Around 6,646 kids have died during treatment in JK Lone hospital in last six years. The majority of the patients are from Kota, Bara, Bundi, Jhalwada, Chittorgarh and the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh.

Kota: The infant death toll in JK Lone hospital of Rajasthan rises to 104 on Friday. Around 6646 kids have died during treatment in JK Lone hospital in the last six years.

The majority of the patients are from Kota, Bara, Bundi, Jhalwada, Chittorgarh and the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh.

Eight kids died on December 30 and 31 and two more kids died on January 1 and 2.

Meanwhile, JK Lon's paediatrician department's chief Amritlal Bairwa said the eight kids who died in the last two days of the year were premature deliveries, and not due to not any fault on doctors' part. The weight of the newborns was too less and also their relatives did not follow proper instructions during delivery due to which the pregnant mothers came to the hospital in serious condition, said Bairwa.

The JK Lon Hospital registered 963 deaths in 2019. The committee formed after much furore, in its report concluded that the deaths were reported due to lack of oxygen pipeline in the hospital and extreme cold conditions.

Earlier, after examining the situation at the hospital, the Rajasthan government committee found that Kota's JK Lone Hospital is short of beds and its requires improvement.

However, the committee gave a clean chit to the doctors for any lapses over the recent death of infants admitted there.

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi summoned party in-charge in the state Avinash Pande on Thursday, and also sought an explanation from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Facing criticism from various quarters Rajasthan Chief Minister Gehlot tweeted on Thursday: "I welcome the specialist delegation of Central government and the state is committed to make Rajasthan 'Nirogi'.

The government is sensitive towards the death of the children and there should be no politics into it, and in Kota the mortality rate has come down."

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has attacked Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi. Mayawati said: "It is very sad that the Congress General Secretary is keeping mum on the deaths of 100 children in the Kota hospital.