Gorakhpur hospital tragedy: Yogi-govt removes Dr Kafeel Khan as BRD College superintendent of Dept of Pediatrics

A day after Dr. Kafeel Khan — superintendent of Department of Pediatrics of Baba Raghav Das Medical College (BRDC), Gorakhpur — was hailed as hero for carrying oxygen-cylinders and making payments for the refill in an attempt to save minors admitted in the hospital has been removed from his position by the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday.

Uttar Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was on a visit to the hospital to take note of the situation.

The Uttar Pradesh government has replaced Khan with Dr. Bhupendra Sharma as the Nodal Officer of the Department of Pediatrics of Baba Raghav Das Medical College, Gorakhpur. 

Dr PK Singh, principal of Rajkiya Medical College, Ambedkar Nagar, has been given the additional charge of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, by the Yogi Government.

According to reports more than 30 children have died in the Gorakhpur hospital due to unavailability of oxygen. Several news dailies have reported that suppliers had stopped supplying oxygen cylinders to the hospital due to failure of payments. 

Also Read: Gorakhpur Tragedy: Here's how 'hero' Dr Khan saved as many children as he could

According to sources in the BRDC, the Yogi-government has removed Khan from his position for showing negligence in his work,  for not taking decision on time and failing to inform the government about the oxygen crisis. 

Sources also added that Khan had not informed the Gorakhpur administration about the shortage of oxygen cylinders and warning given by suppliers to stop oxygen-supply due to failure of payments in a meeting held early this month. 

Also Read: Gorakhpur tragedy: Will not spare those responsible for child deaths, says CM Yogi Adityanath

According to reports, Dr Khan was hailed as a hero after he was seen carrying oxygen cylinders in his personal car. Various newspapers reported that Khan, after learning that the hospital is left with only two-hours of oxygen, started making calls to arrange oxygen and even borrowed cylinders from a private hospital run by his friend. Khan even made a payment of Rs 10000 to a local oxygen supplier.  

Gorakhpur is home constiyuency of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 

(With inputs from Mohit Raj Dubey)