Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi refuses to answer questions on deaths due to Encephalitis in conference

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi refused to answer journalists' questions on deaths of children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)while addressing a press conference on Wednesday.

Over 100 children have died in Bihar due to the viral disease in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district including 93 children at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) and 19 others at Kejriwal Hospital.

While the number of children admitted to the hospital with AES is 372 since June 1, PTI reported.

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The BJP leader was addressing media about the non-performing assets (NPA) crisis in the state and the performance of banks in the last financial year when wasrepeatedly questioned by reporters about child deaths due to the viral disease.

Reasoning his refusal over the questions Sushil Modi said,"I already told you this press conference is about banking committees."

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome is a viral disease, which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions and headaches and has been claiming lives in the Bihar districts for the past few weeks.

Relatives of patients have alleged negligence by politicians to be the cause of the spread of AES. They have also complained about frequent power cuts and a shortage of beds.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to urgently constitute a team of medical experts for the treatment of the children in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, who are suffering fromAES.

A vacation bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant will hear the plea next Monday after the petitioner's counsel sought an urgent listing of the matter.

The plea also sought a direction to the Centre for providing all necessary medical equipment and other supports for the effective treatment of the children suffering from the epidemic disease.

(With inputs from agencies)