Jaipur, December 28: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday issued an order for investigation into the death cases of 12 infants in government-run JJ Lon Children Hospital in Kota. Gehlot also assured the people that his government would focus on decreasing the mortality rate among children in the state. However, he said that the death of children in Rajasthan had declined in comparison to last six years.

Speaking to the media about the proposed action by the state government, Gehlot said, "I’ve ordered an investigation. We will focus on the declining mortality rates among children in the state." He assured the people of the state that every step is taken to decrease the child mortality rate, as even death of on child is unfortunate. Rajasthan: 77 Children Die in 24 Days at Kota’s Jay Kay Lon Hospital, Officials Rule Out Negligence.

Adding more, the CM said, as quoted by news agency ANI, "This year has least deaths in last 6 yrs. Even 1 child death is unfortunate. But there have been 1500, 1300 deaths in a year in past, this year figure is 900. There are daily few deaths in every hospital in state and country, nothing new. Action being taken."

Here the ANI tweet:

Following the reports of death of 12 infants this week and 940 this year, even Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urged the Gehlot government in state to act 'sensitively' on the issue. Earlier on Friday, officials confirmed that two infants died on Friday itself. Gehlot, in the meanwhile, had asked the Health Secretary Vaibhav Galriya to take stock of the situation and report to him soon so that appropriate action can be taken.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 28, 2019 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).