In a shocking incident, at least 24 COVID-19 patients who were on life support have lost their lives in Nashik’s Dr. Zakir Hussain Hospital owing to acute shortage of oxygen following massive leakage of the gas from an oxygen tanker.
The death toll in the incident rose to 24 after two more COVID-19 patients died in the evening, a top district official said. "Two more patients, who were on ventilator, succumbed in the evening. They could not get sufficient oxygen earlier in the day when its supply stopped due to the leakage in the tank," collector Suraj Mandhare told PTI.
Earlier in the day, attributing the cause to a valve malfunction in the tanker, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that a probe to ascertain negligence had been ordered into the incident.
Sources said that the mishap occurred sometime around noon. Massive leakage from an oxygen tank caused disruption in vital oxygen supply for at least half-an-hour, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of several patients who were on ventilator support. A fire brigade team was rushed to the spot of the mishap to contain the leak.
Mr. Tope said 157 patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital, of whom 61 were in a critical condition and required oxygen.
