New Delhi: Twenty-two COVID-19 patients died Wednesday due to lack of oxygen in Nashik, the district’s collector said, after an oxygen tanker leaked outside a hospital in the Maharashtra city causing oxygen supply to be halted for around 30 minutes.
“As per current information, 22 people have died due to the interrupted supply of oxygen at the Zakir Hussain municipal hospital,” NDTV quoted district collector Suraj Mandhare as saying.
All the victims were on ventilators and in need of constant oxygen supply. Zakir Hussain Hospital is a Covid-dedicated facility. Around 150 patients were either oxygen-dependent or on ventilators.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope promised the government will look into the matter and conduct a thorough probe.
“As per the information available with us, patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died. The leakage was spotted at the oxygen tank which was supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the patients in the hospital,” Mr Tope said.
“We will issue a statement later after the investigation is over,” he added.
Visuals from the hospital show rapidly leaking gas from the tanker and covering the surrounding areas in white fumes.
Panic struck the patients and their family members as the oxygen supply was stopped. Heart wrenching visuals show families trying to help the patients as they gasp for breath.
