Kolkata tense over baby deaths

According to unconfirmed reports, at least 17 babies died of various causes at B C Roy Hospital for Children in the last 48 hours.

Relatives of the victims and locals alleged negligence on the part of the hospital staff and barged into the main building.  The agitators, who blocked the road, were later chased away by the police.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is  in-charge of the health portfolio, has ordered a high-level probe into the incident. According to D Paul, Superintendent of the hospital, most of the victims were either pre-mature or suffering from septicemia or low-birth weight problems. Most of the babies were brought in a moribund stage, he said.

“I have come to know that the babies were brought to the hospital at a very critical stage and that the cause of death was not enteric disease. Hospital authorities have been asked to submit a report,” said Trinamool Congress legislator Paresh Pal after visiting the hospital.

Earlier in September 2002, there were protests at the hospital, considered to be the largest referral paediatric institute in the eastern region,  after 14 children died of broncho-pneumonia and  gastro-enteritis.