Cops register an ADR and begin probe; Nashik collector says a damaged cork in the tank caused leakage, but police chief says it happened during the refilling
The oxygen leaked from the tanker around 12.30 pm
The medical oxygen gas leak at Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik disrupted the supply to COVID-19 patients and claimed the lives of 24 people on Wednesday.
The incident triggered panic among the relatives of 157 hospitalised patients. Soon after, videos surfaced on social media platforms, showing the massive leakage and weeping relatives. The hospital staff and relatives were also seen trying to revive a patient after the oxygen supply was cut off.
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A COVID-19 patient’s family member reacts after getting the news of medical oxygen gas leakage in Nashik, on Wednesday. Pic/PTI
According to the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s statement, the incident took place at around 12.30 pm and the supply was restored between 1.45 pm to 2 pm. The tanker was placed on the hospital premises on March 31 due to the rising COVID-19 cases. It was rented for 10 years from a private firm, Taiyo Nippon, which supplies liquid oxygen and maintenance too.
“The cork of the oxygen tank placed at the hospital got damaged on Wednesday morning, disrupting the supply, due to which the oxygen pressure dipped. This led to the deaths of critically ill patients. The oxygen supply was restored after a while, but by then 22 people, [including 12 men and 10 women], had died,” said Suraj Mandhare, Nashik collector. Two more died later in the day. The 22 patients who died initially were aged between 33 and 76.
Nashik Commissioner of Police Deepak Pandey, however, told ANI that the leakage happened at the time of refilling.
Police sources had also told mi-day that only 3,000 litres of oxygen was left in the tank, which has the capacity of 13 kilolitres, and the company had sent men to refill it on Wednesday. The tank has to be examined before refilling and while doing so the pharmacist found a leakage in the pipe. However, by the time he alerted the hospital, it was too late and the entire area was filled with white fumes. Fire brigade vehicles rushed to the hospital and sprayed water on the tank to contain the leak.
Relatives and hospital staff try to revive a COVID-19 patient after medical oxygen gas leak incident at Zakir Hussain Municipal Hospital
Cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who hails from Nashik, visited the hospital, and said the chief minister has ordered a high-level enquiry into the incident.
“The hospital comes under the Nashik Municipal Corporation. There were around 157 patients at the time of the incident. While 131 patients were on oxygen, 15 were on ventilator support and 63 were in critical condition. The deceased were among patients in critical condition and on ventilator support,” Bhujbal told the press outside the hospital.
“The interrupted supply of oxygen could be linked to the deaths of the patients. An enquiry is underway,” said state health minister Rajesh Tope. The Chief Minister’s Office announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the deceased.
Meanwhile, police have registered an accidental death report and are investigating the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims. “The tragedy at a hospital in Nashik because of oxygen tank leakage is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. Condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour.”
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