Kota (Rajasthan): Even as the infant death toll at the Kota hospital swelled up to 104 on Friday, the hospital administration put out a green carpet to welcome state health minister Raghu Sharma.
The Hospital authorities were seen making hectic preparations to welcome the Minister, including cleaning up the premises and putting out a green carpet at the entrance.
Earlier in the day, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the number of infant deaths has steadily been declining in the state and that the figure is currently at its lowest in the past five to six years.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is still working towards reducing the Infant Mortality Ratio (IMR) and the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).
Read: Rajasthan: Infants deaths in Kota hospitals rise to 104
He also said that he has invited Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to come and inspect the situation by visiting Kota personally so that he can see the facilities in the hospital.
The Congress has cautioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not to do politics over the death of children in the JK Lon Hospital in Rajasthan's Kota district.
Congress Rajasthan in-charge Avinash Pande, while criticising the BJP said: "The party is trying to divert attention from the main issues, and there should be no politics on it. The Chief Minister has invited the Union Health Minister to the state."
"We are saddened by the death of children in the hospital, the Chief Minister is also upset and has sent the health minister to Kota," said Pande.
Read: Number of infant deaths least in past 6 years in Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot
