Gorakhpur hospital tragedy : Ward in-charge Dr Kafeel Khan arrested

Uttar Pradesh STF on Saturday arrested Dr Kafeel Khan, who was in charge of the Encephalitis Ward in BRD hospital in Gorakhpur where 65 children had died due to lack of oxygen and Encephalitis.

Charges have been levelled against him and a few others under Sections 120B, 308 and 420 of IPC, 7/13 of Prevention of Corruption Act and section 15 of Indian Medical Council Act.He was first hailed for his quick thinking as he saved lives by paying for extra oxygen cylinders from his personal savings, but later he was suspended for "dereliction of duty" and "carrying out private practice".

Following the death of 65 children earlier in August, many more children have died in the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College Hospital. Nineteen deaths on 1 September took the toll in August alone to 325. With this, the death toll among infants and kids in the hospital has touched 1,304 so far this year.

Confirming the fresh cases of deaths, newly-appointed principal of the college Dr PK Singh said, "On August 30 till midnight as many as 59 children were admitted. Of them, 13 died. As of now, there are 354 children undergoing treatment."The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (UPSLSA) to inspect the services at the hospital.