Karimganj: At least 49 children have died in the past two months at a government hospital in south Assam`s Barak Valley. The children, in the age group of 0-12 years, have died at the Karimganj Civil Hospital, according to a senior official of the hospital. "Over 40 children have died in the hospital since January. They had been admitted to the hospital on account of various ailments including diarrhoea and dysentery," Karimganj Civil Hospital Incharge Superintendent, Swapan Kumar Sen told a news agency.
The latest incident occurred last night when another baby died and this led to a minor law and order problem at the hospital`s premises, he said.
The parents of the children who expired have alleged that the death occurred due to negligence of the attending doctor.
District authorities have assured of a magisterial inquiry.
"I will send a magistrate to the hospital tomorrow to find out the facts," Karimganj district Deputy Commissioner J Borgiary said.
All the deaths have taken place in the hospital`s paediatrics ward.
The hospital is the only major state sector health care centre of its kind in the entire district, which has a population of 12.5 lakh.
PTI