Death march continues at Asha Kiran,toll now 25

The cause of death is unclear so far and the hospital will submit a postmortem report to the police.

With the fresh deaths,the total number of inmates from Asha Kiran who have lost their lives since December,touches 25. The home has reported 128 deaths in the last four years.

The complex,built for 350 people,now houses 730.

The rising number of deaths has raised an alarm within the government and human rights bodies.

Recently,the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) submitted a report in the Delhi High Court,which cited lack of proper medical care,unhygienic conditions,lack of staff and overcrowding at the home as reasons for the deaths. The National Human Rights Commission has also taken up the case,and has asked the Delhi government to prepare a “detailed report”.

The Delhi government,too,had set up a five-member committee to investigate the deaths. According to sources,the government will have a meeting later this week on the issue.