Lucknow shelter home deaths: Hospitalised inmates ‘stable’, say doctors

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday visited the Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital where 16 children are undergoing treatment. Adityanath, who interacted with the ailing inmates, directed the hospital staff to discharge them only after they have fully recovered, officials said.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ajay Shankar Tripathi said since the inmates are mentally challenged they were under constant medical supervision.

Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G on Friday said the sample report results of food and water are expected by March 30 and the medical screening of 90 of the inmates of the shelter home had been completed. He also ordered to conduct medical screening of the inmates of all the shelter homes in Lucknow for children, destitute, elderly and women.

The administration has also approved to provide an industrial grade RO water system to the Nirvana Rajkiya Bal Grah, he added. The DM had said on Thursday that the bodies of the four inmates, including two girls, who died were sent for post-mortem, and the viscera would be preserved for further analysis.

Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Roshan Jacob had hinted at the consumption of contaminated water as the likely reason behind the children’s sickness.

Nirvan Rajkiya Bal Grah Visheshikrit superintendent Preeti Mishra had said on Thursday, “There could not have been any food poisoning, as I checked the food before serving it to the inmates. We suspect water contamination as the likely cause. As soon the children reported discomfort, they were given treatment and were immediately rushed to hospital when their condition started deteriorating. Even three members of our staff have been taken ill. They bring food from their home and we have an RO water system at the centre.”

Since the inmates are mentally challenged, it became difficult to ascertain their condition immediately, she added.

“We were aware that one of the children who died had TB but got to know that she was suffering from diabetes as well only after her admission to hospital. Also, nearly 15 inmates used to have seizures,” Mishra had said.

Priyanka Maurya, a member of the State Women Commission, had inspected the shelter home on Thursday, saying the inmates were under constant watch. “Inquiries are being conducted and the guilty will not be spared,” she had said.