NEW DELHI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The local government in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh has set up a committee to ascertain the lapses that have caused the deaths of 60 children at a medical college hospital, officials said Saturday.
According to the government, 60 deaths have taken place in the hospital during past five days.
The inquiry was ordered Friday night after local media reports quoting hospital authorities said 30 children died in the hospital due to lack of oxygen cylinders.
Meanwhile, the local government denied deaths of the children due to lack of oxygen cylinders in the hospital.
Health Minister of the local government Sidharth Nath Singh said in a statement that 60 children have died in the hospital since Aug. 7 due to different diseases but not because of lack of oxygen cylinders.
"District magistrate of Gorakhpur has also initiated a magisterial probe to find exact reasons of children death," a government spokesman said. "The district magistrate is camping there to look into the matter."
Opposition leader and former Chief Minister of the state Akhilesh Yadav termed the incident as unfortunate and held the local government responsible for the deaths.
The ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is governing Uttar Pradesh.
India's main opposition Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi have expressed deep shock over the deaths.
"My thoughts are with the families of the victims. The BJP government is responsible and should punish the negligent who caused this tragedy," Rahul Gandhi said.
