In August 2017, the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, became the epicenter of one of India’s most heart-wrenching medical disasters. Over 60 children—some just days old—gasped for breath and died as oxygen supply to the hospital’s pediatric and neonatal ICUs was allegedly cut off due to unpaid bills.
The media storm that followed blamed the Uttar Pradesh government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the tragedy. Yet, as the dust settled and deeper investigations unfolded, a chilling truth emerged—one that the mainstream media carefully avoided.
At the center of this criminal negligence, corruption, and political cover-up was Dr. Kafeel Khan, then an assistant professor in the Pediatrics Department. Initially hailed as a “savior” who arranged emergency oxygen, he later emerged as a man with dubious intentions, deep links to financial mismanagement, and possible involvement in a scheme that led to the deaths of innocent children.
The Night of Horror: How 60+ children died due to oxygen shortage
Between August 10 and 12, 2017, dozens of children suffering from encephalitis and other serious ailments died due to an alleged shortage of liquid oxygen.
August 10, 2017: The hospital’s liquid oxygen supply begins depleting.
August 11, 2017: Oxygen cylinders from private suppliers begin running out. Families grow desperate, hospital staff struggle to maintain oxygen levels.
August 12, 2017: Over 60 children are declared dead due to “unknown causes,” later confirmed to be hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
Parents helplessly watched their children die in front of them. Some attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as doctors and nurses scrambled to find oxygen. The question remains: Why did the oxygen supply run out in the first place?
Who Was Responsible for the Oxygen Shortage?
The initial blame was placed on Pushpa Sales, the oxygen supplier, for stopping deliveries over unpaid dues of Rs 68 lakh. The Yogi Adityanath-led government was accused of negligence for not clearing these payments on time.
However, investigations revealed a far more sinister role played by hospital authorities, including Dr. Kafeel Khan.
Dr. Kafeel Khan’s Role: Savior or Mastermind of Corruption?
Dr. Kafeel Khan was initially celebrated as a hero for allegedly arranging oxygen cylinders from private sources. But soon, a mountain of evidence pointed toward his complicity.
1. Theft and Diversion of Government Oxygen to His Private Hospital
- Investigations found that oxygen cylinders meant for BRD Medical College were being siphoned off to
- Medispring Hospital, a private facility linked to Dr. Kafeel Khan.
- CCTV footage showed cylinders being transported to Medispring during the crisis.
- Hospital staff testified that Khan frequently misused hospital resources for his private practice.
2. Deliberate Inaction Despite Warnings
- The oxygen supplier had warned the hospital multiple times about pending payments.
- Dr. Kafeel, as a senior doctor in the Pediatrics ICU, was aware of these warnings but took no action.
- If he truly cared, why didn’t he push for immediate payment clearance or raise alarms earlier?
3. Financial Mismanagement and Corruption
- Documents revealed irregularities in hospital funds, with money meant for essential supplies either missing or misallocated.
- The Yogi Adityanath government later found multiple financial discrepancies under Dr. Kafeel’s tenure.
Why was money available for other purchases but not for life-saving oxygen?
Did Dr Kafeel Khan Profit from the Tragedy?
- Multiple whistleblowers suggested that Dr. Kafeel Khan was part of an illegal scheme where oxygen cylinders were sold to private hospitals at inflated prices.
- Pushpa Sales had been pressured to continue supplying BRD Medical College despite non-payment—but cylinders were disappearing from hospital records.
- Who was responsible for ensuring oxygen supply was uninterrupted? Dr. Kafeel was one of the key people in charge—yet he did nothing until it was too late.
Following the deaths, Dr. Kafeel Khan was suspended and arrested, along with other hospital officials. However, soon a media-driven narrative emerged, painting him as a scapegoat and a victim of government oppression.
But the facts tell a different story:
Judicial Corruption?
Justice Yashwant Verma, who granted Kafeel bail, was later raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for possessing unaccounted wealth.
Why Did the Deaths Stop After His Suspension?
After Dr. Kafeel was removed, no further deaths from oxygen shortage were reported at BRD Medical College.
If the system was to blame, why did it miraculously improve after he was dismissed?
UP Government’s Final Verdict
In March 2025, the Yogi Adityanath government officially dismissed Dr. Kafeel Khan from service, citing:
- Criminal negligence
- Financial corruption
- Theft of hospital resources
The BRD tragedy was not just a failure of the system; it was a betrayal by those entrusted with saving lives.
60+ children died—not due to an unavoidable crisis, but because of corruption, greed, and negligence.
A man hailed as a ‘hero’ was, in reality, a man who let children die under his watch.
A grieving father of one of the victims summed it up best: “We kept waiting for the doctors to save our child. Little did we know, they were the ones killing them.”
