4 more children die at J&K's G B Pant Hospital, toll 363

Four children died overnight at the G B Pant Hospital in Kashmir, taking the death toll at Kashmir's only paediatric hospital to 363 this year.

The infants died at the hospital during the intervening night, official sources said on Friday.

Soon after the deaths, the attendants and relatives of patients staged a protest outside the hospital premises and blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway by placing the bodies of the infants on the road.

The traffic police has diverted all vehicles, coming in or leaving the city.

The deaths took place two days after the government ordered an inquiry into the high number of infant deaths at the hospital.

Medical Superintendent Javed Chaudhury was transferred and attached to medical education department after preliminary inquiry pointed out lack of efficient management.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the hospital on Friday, said steps for improving the situation have been put in place and a difference will be visible within one week.