Dozens Of COVID Patients Have Died Across India In Last 24 Hours As Govt Fails To Provide Oxygen To Hospitals
The medical oxygen crisis is growing exponentially despite efforts to bridge the short-supply of life-saving gas at hospitals. Over the last couple of weeks the crisis has grown manifold resulting in deaths of COVID patients at hospitals running out of oxygen in several states. In Karnataka 24 people died at Chamarajanagar Government District Hospital allegedly due to oxygen shortage in 24 hours since Sunday morning.
The medical oxygen crisis is growing exponentially despite efforts to bridge the short-supply of life-saving gas at hospitals.
Over the last couple of weeks, the crisis has grown manifold, resulting in deaths of COVID patients at hospitals running out of oxygen in several states.
24 deaths in Chamarajanagar hospital due to oxygen shortage
In Karnataka, 24 people died at Chamarajanagar Government District Hospital allegedly due to oxygen shortage in 24 hours since Sunday morning.
Died or Killed? My heartfelt condolences to their families. How much more suffering before the 'system' wakes up?" Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Karnataka | 24 patients, including COVID-19 patients, died at Chamarajanagar District Hospital due to oxygen shortage & others reasons in last 24 hours. We are waiting for the death audit report: District Incharge Minister Suresh Kumar
¡ª ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2021
(Visuals from outside the hospital) pic.twitter.com/8wEOkEEBvm
A pall of gloom descended on the Chamarajanagar district hospital as the grieving kin of the deceased gathered after hearing the news.
Family members of the dead also staged a demonstration at the hospital and alleged there was a shortening of oxygen and raised slogans.
Five COVID patients die in Meerut
Family members of COVID-19 patients created ruckus after five succumbed to the disease at a private hospital on Sunday.
The relatives have alleged that the patients died due to disruption in the oxygen supply.
Meerut | Family members created ruckus after 5 patients died at a private hospital yesterday.
¡ª ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 3, 2021
¡°Patients who died were co-morbid. Family members alleged that oxygen supply was disrupted for some time. The allegations are a matter of investigation,¡± said Akhilesh Mohan, CMO pic.twitter.com/WEUk8aLUEw
"I had a talk with the doctors here. They said that the patients who died were co-morbid. Family members alleged that the oxygen supply was disrupted for some time. The allegations are a matter of investigation," said Chief Medical Officer of Meerut Akhilesh Mohan.
"The oxygen supply is very tight. The authorities are trying to fulfill the demand for the oxygen," Mohan added.
Delhi hospitals cry for help
Battling an acute shortage of oxygen, some hospitals in Delhi sent out desperate SOS calls to authorities to replenish their dwindling stocks, with one healthcare facility even requesting the government to shift out its patients.
Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital in Malviya Nagar on Sunday sounded an alarm about their depleting stocks around noon, saying 50 people, including four newborns, were "at risk".
AP
Later, at night, the hospital said it will not take any admission which requires oxygen or ventilation support "due to inconsistent liquid oxygen supply."
Aakash Healthcare in Dwarka appealed to government authorities to shift patients to other facilities "so that they can be saved".
"CRY FOR HELP: Received only 5 #oxygen cylinders after running around the entire day, not more than 60 mins left to save the lives of more than 250 patients," a tweet posted from the hospital's handle read.
In the evening, Yateesh Wahaal, CEO of Vimhans Hospital in South Delhi, requested "urgent support to save precious lives".
An official of MD City Hospital in Model Town said lives of 140 patients were in danger due to irregular supply of oxygen.
Around 4:30 pm, the hospital said it had exhausted its liquid medical oxygen stock and was using the back up.
There has been no update on the situation so far.
