Gorakhpur hospital tragedy: Dr Kafeel Khan removed as nodal officer of pediatrics department at BRD medical college

The death of 72 children in Baba Raghav Das (BRD) medical college in Gorakhpur shook the nation on Saturday. But amid the sordid news, the tale of how Dr Kafeel Khan, nodal officer for the Department of Pediatrics at the medical college, provided one with a silver lining. The doctor reportedly  thought on his feet and arranged for oxygen cylinders with the help of his friends and private vendors. According to a report in DNA, parents of children admitted to the hospital said that had it not been for Khan, the number of fatalities could have been far higher. Khan, with the help of hospital staff, drove to his friend’s clinic and borrowed three oxygen cylinders, alleviating the lack of oxygen in the hospital. CNN-News18 also reported that Khan paid Rs 10,000 to an oxygen supplier out of his own pocket.

BRD Medical College Dr Kafil, child specialist Statement In Gorakhpur pic.twitter.com/s7Xsag6G81

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[caption id=“attachment_3925729” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Dr Kafeel Khan. News18[/caption] But, one day after the tragedy, Khan has been terminated from his services by the hospital. According to a report on India Today, Khan was ousted on Sunday. He is the second person from the hospital administration, following the suspension of the principal of the BRD medical college, Dr Rajeev Mishra. According to PTI, Mishra was suspended following the death of 30 infants within a span of 48 hours since 10 August. Mishra resigned from his post to take “moral responsibility” for the incident. Confirming the resignation of Mishra, UP health minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, “Yes, he has resigned. But we had already suspended him and initiated enquiry into his misdoings.” According to ANI, Dr PK Singh, principal of Rajkiya Medical College in Ambedkar Nagar, has been given additional charge of BRD Medical College. He will be taking over Mishra’s responsibilities. The report added that Dr Bhupendra Sharma has been appointed as the new nodal officer for the Department of Pediatrics in the hospital, taking over Kafil’s role. It is yet to be revealed why Khan was released.