Gujarat: 9 newborns die at Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital within 24 hours

A total of nine newborn babies died on Saturday at Ahmedabad's prestigious Civil Hospital, prompting authorities to order an inquiry.

IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Dev Goswami
New Delhi, October 29, 2017 | UPDATED 09:44 IST
Picture for representationPicture for representation

Highlights

  • 1
    9 babies die at Ahmedbad's Civil Hospital within 24 hours.
  • 2
    4 babies were born at the Civil Hospital itself while 5 had been referred from other facilities.
  • 3
    A three-member committee has been asked to probe the deaths.

At least nine newborn babies died at Ahmedabad's prestigious Civil Hospital in a single day. Four of the babies were born at the Civil Hospital itself while five others were referred to the facility from other health centres.

According to a report in local daily Divya Bhaskar, the deaths, all of which took place on Saturday, were a result of the babies contracting a severe form of infection known as septicemia.

The Congress, looking to target the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the state's Assembly election, hit out at the Vijay Rupani-led government.

"Death of children reported in another BJP ruled State #Gujarat. My heart goes out to their parents n family members. May God gv (give) them strength," Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

India Today was able to confirm that nearly all of the babies were born underweight. Five of the babies who died were referred to Ahmedbad's Civil Hospital from smaller facilities in Lunavada, Surendranagar, Mansa, Viramgam and Himmatnagar.

Apart from being severally underweight, the babies were also said to be suffering from severe birth asphyxia. Of the four babies who were born at the Civil Hospital itself, three suffered from severe birth asphyxia as well while one had contracted the meconium aspiration syndrome.

At the time of the deaths, all doctors and nurses who were supposed to be on duty at the Civil Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit were present in the medical facility. The unit has around 100 beds is considered to be the ultimate referral centre in Gujarat.

Following the tragedy, Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital, which is Gujarat's largest government-run medical facility, instituted a three-member committee to probe the deaths. The committee, which comprises of a paediatrician, a gynaecologist, and a government official, has been asked to submit a report on the babies' deaths within a week.

(With inputs from Gopi Maniar in Ahamedabad)