Oxygen tank leaks at Nashik hospital, 22 COVID-19 patients dead

Nashik_OxygenLeakNASHIK: In a major tragedy, at least 22 COVID-19 patients died after an oxygen tank leaked in a hospital in Maharashtra’s Nashik. The oxygen supply at the Zaki Hussain Hospital in Maharashtra’s Nashik was halted for almost 30 minutes after the oxygen tanker just outside its premises reported a massive leak. As a result, at least 22 patients in the hospital died, said Nashik district Collector Suraj Mandhare.

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.Visuals from the hospital show the oxygen rapidly flowing out and engulfing the area in white fumes. The fire fighting team rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
“As per the information available with us, 11 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 11 patients in the hospital,” Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope told ANI.
The incident happened at the Zakir Hussai Hospital of the district. Providing details about the incident, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that many people are said to be in critical. “So far 22 people have died in the oxygen leak accident, while many people are being told the condition is serious.” He informed that the patients died due to a lack of oxygen in the hospitals. All these patients were on ventilators.

 Attendants and families of patients panicked after the oxygen supply was halted Panic struck patients and their family members as the oxygen supply was stopped. Heart wrenching visuals showed families trying to help the patients as they gasped for breath. Fire trucks were rushed to the spot to stop the leak. Videos showed water sprayed to control the leak; the firefighting team also wore protective gear.
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An official of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s office said that the victims’ families will be compensated with ₹ 5 lakh each. A high level probe into the matter will be launched, the official added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon tweeted that people responsible for the leak must be punished “Leakage of Oxygen from tanker in Nasik has caused loss of several litres of oxygen and panic in the Hospital. Those responsible for negligence must be identified and punished,” Mr Memon tweeted.
(Agency Inputs with Bureau Report).
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