Uttar Pradesh Technical and Medical Education Minister Ashutosh Tandon on July 11 conducted an inspection at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College hospital here and directed the authorities to provide proper medical facilities to patients.

The hospital made headlines in August last year when more than 60 people, mostly infants, died within a week due to alleged disruption of oxygen supply over unpaid bills to the vendor. The state government, however, maintained that the children died due to various illnesses, including Japanese Encephalitis (JE). Tandon met the patients' attendants and inquired about the availability of medicines in the hospital.

"The state government is all set to eradicate encephalitis and I am sure we will win the battle against this disease," Tandon told reporters here. "We are putting in all efforts to make the medical facilities better in the state. Medicines, doctors and other things are being provided in sufficient quantity to all the state-run hospitals," he added. The minister also inspected the under-construction buildings of the hospital and expressed satisfaction over the quality of work.