The PIR has ruled out cholera as the cause behind the deaths as suggested in one of the post-mortem reports from the Deen Dayal Upadhya Hospital. Though the epidemic angle has been ruled out, the PIR pointed out that the medical treatment of the poor inmates were grossly inadequate. In fact, the lack of proper medical care is also equally to blame for the deaths.

The PIR also suggested a second line of investigation looking into the possibility of food-poisoning as the likely cause of the deaths. The deputy commissioner of Delhi Police, North-West, Sharad Chauhan handed the report to the L-G at 10 p.m.

``It is, definitely, not an epidemic. But the viscera samples have been sent to the CFSL (Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory) for testing and we will get their report in a fortnight,'' Chauhan said.

``They only have one doctor treat 470 inmates,'' said Chauhan. He is planning to strongly recommend better facilities and more doctors for the mentally handicapped inmates of the Home.

Asha Kiran is the only home in all of North India for the mentally retarded. Though the initial proposal for the home the Delhi Government promised three doctors, the Home never got the service of more than one doctor. The doctor was not available when most of the deaths occurred.