22 Covid patients in Nashik die as oxygen tanker leaks

New Delhi, 21 April (HS): As many as twenty-two COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra’s Nashik on Wednesday after an oxygen tanker, that was standing in the hospital premises leaked resulting in disruption of supply of oxygen to patients 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,” district collector Suraj Mandhare told media.

“All the victims were on ventilators and in need of constant oxygen supply. Zakir Hussain Hospital is a Covid-dedicated hospital. Around 150 patients were either oxygen-dependent or on ventilators,” said another official.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope promised that the government will look into the matter and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

While talking to a section of media, Tope said, “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,” adding, “We will issue a statement later after the investigation is over.”

Immediate after the leak, fire tenders were rushed to the spot to check the leakage.