Ballia 'heat deaths': top medical officer removed over 'careless remark'

Fifty-four people admitted at Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district hospital have died in the last three days, following which a team of the health department from Lucknow has reached the hospital to ascertain the cause of deaths, officials said on Sunday.

The deaths come amid the heatwave conditions in the region. However, Ballia Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Jayant Kumar said only two people have died due to heat stroke in the district till Sunday.

Nearly 400 patients were admitted to the district hospital from June 15 to June 17, they said, adding all the patients who died at the government hospital were aged above 60 years.

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the district hospital, Dr Divakar Singh, was removed and sent to Azamgarh, allegedly after he made a careless remark about the cause of deaths.

Dr S K Yadav has been given the charge of CMS, a senior official said.

CMS Yadav said the hospital is under pressure as around 125 to 135 patients are being admitted daily.

"On June 15, as many as 154 patients were admitted to the district hospital, of which 23 patients died due to various reasons. While 20 patients died on June 16, 11 passed away on the following day. They were all aged above 60 years," he added.