At least 22 Covid patients on ventilators have died after an oxygen leak at a hospital in India, officials have confirmed.
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said an investigation will be launched after the incident at Zakir Hussain hospital in Nashik today.
District collector Suraj Mandhare told NDTV: “As per current information, 22 people have died due to the interrupted supply of oxygen at the Zakir Hussain municipal hospital.”
Footage from outside the hospital shows an oxygen tanker leaking white fumes.
The leak is understood to have left the facility without oxygen for 30 minutes.
“As per the information available with us, patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died,” said Mr Tope.
“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.
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(Image: Twitter)
“We will issue a statement later after the investigation is over,” he added.
The hospital – run by Nashik Municipal Corporation – is a Covid-dedicated facility, containing around 150 patients who are either oxygen-dependent or on ventilators.
Family members of patients are reported to have been desperately trying to help their loved ones as they gasped for breath.
(Image: Twitter)
Fire engines descended on the scene, with emergency personnel in protective gear seen spraying water in an effort to control the leak.
A reported 31 patients have been transferred to other hospitals.
Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on Twitter: “I am distressed to hear the news of the accident of oxygen leak in a hospital in Nashik.
(Image: Twitter)
“I express my deepest condolences on this irreparable loss of those who have lost their loved ones in this accident.
“I pray to God for the efficiency of all the other patients.”
State Minister Aaditya Thackeray said the incident was “extremely unfortunate”.
“We all share in the grief of all these families. Guardian Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and all the officials are in touch with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
“This unfortunate incident will be thoroughly investigated,” he tweeted.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majeed Memon said those responsible for the leak “must be identified and punished”.
