At least 22 COVID-19 patients lost their lives in an Indian Hospital on Wednesday, after they lost oxygen due to a leak, an official said.
The incident occurred at the Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik, a city in the worst-affected western state of Maharashtra, when an oxygen tanker was refilling a storage tank.
Suraj Mandhare, a senior government official, told reporters that investigation has commenced to find out how the accident happened.
The medical facility is reportedly a dedicated COVID-19 hospital where hundreds of patients were on ventilators.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident “heart-wrenching”. “…anguished by the loss of lives due to it. Condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour,” he said on Twitter.
Rahul Gandhi, head of the opposition Indian National Congress party who tested positive on Tuesday, said the deaths are “extremely tragic”. “My heartfelt condolences to the aggrieved families. I appeal to State Government and party workers to provide all possible assistance,” he tweeted.
The country’s current recorded new cases of the virus stand at 295,041 and 2,023 related deaths in the last 24 hours. India’s total caseload has risen to 15.6 million, the second-highest globally, and 182,553 fatalities.
There has also been a shortage of beds and treatment drugs. Since April 15 – hospitals across the country are struggling to keep oxygen supply.
