Kota Infant Deaths: With 10 Kids Dying In Last 3 Days, Toll Since December Beginning Rises To 102

Two more children died in the J K Lon hospital in Rajasthan's Kota district on the first two days of the new year, taking the death toll to 102, confirmed hospital superintendent Suresh Dulara to IANS.

Ten kids have died in the last three days, as eight kids died on 30 and 31 December and two more kids died on 1 and 2 January, all mainly due to low birth weight, according to Dulara.

Dulara said that these two kids were critically ill and were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Speaking on the matter, Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan said that the number of deaths was certainly higher this year in comparison to the last few years. “I have written a letter to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot requesting him to look into the matter,” he said, while assuring full support to the state government.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is already facing criticism from the opposition, gave assurance that his government was sensitive to the deaths of sick infants. But, he also insisted that there should be no politicisation of the matter.

“Infant mortality in this hospital of Kota is steadily decreasing. We will try to reduce it further. The health of mothers and children is our top priority,” he tweeted.

However, according to ABP News, he had earlier said, “Deaths happen every year, happen in Jaipur too, there was nothing new about it.”

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 new borns 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.

Dulara further said, "As compared to other government hospitals, this number stands quite low. Also, one death a day means that death rate is falling down in this hospital, which witnessed 91 deaths in December last year."

(With inputs from IANS)