Infant Deaths: Gorakhpur Medical College Principal Resigns

The principal of the Baba Raghav Das Medical College in Gorakhpur, Dr Rajeev Mishra, who was suspended following the death of 30 infants within a span of 48 hours since August 10, resigned from the post on Saturday.

Confirming the resignation of Mishra from the post of the BRD medical college principal, U.P. Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, “Yes, he has resigned. But no good, because we have already suspended him and initiated enquiry of his misdoings.”

In his letter to the Director General of Medical Education and Training, the principal said that he tendered his resignation from the post taking the moral responsibility for the recent death of 30 children admitted in the hospital's paediatric ward.

Earlier, Singh and U.P. Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tandon had said that Mishra was suspended for his “irresponsible act” of allegedly delaying payment to the supplier of oxygen cylinders.

They also said that a probe, led by the state chief secretary, had been ordered.

“U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited BRD Medical College hospital on July 9 and August 9, and held elaborate discussions with doctors and the principal. The issue of gas supply did not came up and was even not brought to his notice by the doctors and principal,” Siddarth Nath Singh told reporters.

Terming the death of so many children in a day as “shocking”, he said that the U.P. government was a "sensitive government" and was not trying to play down the report of the death of 23 children in a day (on August 10).