Encephalitis outbreak: 'Go back Nitish' shout angry relatives as CM visits Muzaffarpur hospital

The Chief Minister will hold a review meeting with doctors and health officials later in the day to take stock of the situation.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar (FILE PIC/PTI)

Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday visited the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur where 108 children have died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) so far. Nitish Kumar, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, visited the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), where they met children undergoing treatment and also their parents, a district health official said. The Chief Minister will hold a review meeting with doctors and health officials later in the day to take stock of the situation. As he entered the hospital, Kumar faced protests from the relatives of patients. Protesters raised 'Nitish go back' slogans as they alleged that government failed to take preventive measures. The relatives of the deceased are also fuming as the chief minister has come to take a stock approximately two weeks after the outbreak. Nearly 129 children have died in the entire state due to the vector borne disease.

#WATCH Locals hold protest outside Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur as Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is present at the hospital; Death toll due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) is 108. pic.twitter.com/N1Bpn5liVr

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2019

Of the 107 victims, 88 died in SKMCH and 19 in the private Kejriwal Hospital. In both the hospitals, over 100 seriously ill children with symptoms of AES have been admitted and undergoing treatment. However, unofficial deaths due the disease are said to be over 100 as some children died in villages before being hospitalised. On Sunday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan visited SKMCH to review the situation. (With additional information from IANS)