Not less than 60 children reportedly died at a BRD Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, India this week and the death has partly being blamed on shortage of oxygen.

It was gathered that 34 babies died at the neo-natal intensive care unit, 12 died because of encephalitis, while the rest died of other unspecified causes.

It was gathered that the oxygen supplier withdrew his services from the hospital over unpaid wages and it led to the death of the children.

BRD Medical Chief Medical Superintendent Dr R.S. Shukla denied the deaths had been caused by a lack of oxygen supplies.

The government also denied that any of the deaths had been caused due to shortage of oxygen since the hospital had made arrangements.

“No death in BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, has taken place due to shortage of oxygen supply. Only seven deaths have taken place at the BRD Medical College today and these were due to different medical reasons,” Gorakhpur District Magistrate Rajeev Rautela told Indian Express.

“As far as the complaint regarding non-payment of dues to the company supplying the oxygen is concerned, it is a matter of inquiry. But there was existing alternative arrangement of 50 oxygen cylinders which was being used, so there was no shortage of oxygen,” he said.