Maharashtra- In a rather unfortunate and shocking incident from Nashik, an oxygen tank leaked outside a hospital which resulted in the death of 22 COVID-19 patients due to the non-availability of medical oxygen. As per reports, critical patients were unable to avail medical oxygen for half an hour due to the unfortunate leakage.
This incident occurred in the Zakir Hussain municipal hospital. The District Commissioner Suraj Mandhare confirmed the cases of fatalities by saying, "As per current information, 22 people have died due to the interrupted supply of oxygen at the Zakir Hussain municipal hospital."
All the victims were in dire need of medical oxygen as they were on ventilators. Around 150 patients were either on ventilators or were oxygen-dependent. Around 31 patients out of 80 who are critically dependent on medical oxygen supply have been shifted to other hospitals.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope assured that the government will further inquire into this matter and conduct an extensive 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," said the health minister.
He added by saying that an official statement will be issued after the investigations are over.
In a video that has surfaced all over social media and news, dense white fumes spread all over from the tanker can be seen while firefighters deployed there tried to control the leak by spraying water.
Other heartwrenching visuals of desperate family members and panic struck patients helplessly waiting as the oxygen supply had been disrupted also surfaced, filling people with discomfort and agony.
Meanwhile, India as of Tuesday almost crossed the 3 lakh mark after recording 2,95,041 fresh new cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest one-day spike recorded in the country so far. The cases of COVID-19 induced fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours from across the country amounts to 2,023 taking the total tally of deaths to 1,82,601. The active caseloads now stand at 21,59,134 taking the total number of cases recorded as of today to more than 1.56 crores.