In worrisome findings, state-appointed technical experts have discovered glaring lapses in the maintenance of the medical oxygen supply system in 1,814 government and private hospitals across Maharashtra. These include leaking oxygen cylinders, no basic tools to repair them, and more importantly, no back-up in case of emergency.

The audit was ordered a day after 22 people died in a Nashik hospital because of oxygen leakage last month, and in view of the panic due to the shortage of oxygen supply in the pandemic