Oxygen tanker leak in Nashik hospital kills 22
Oxygen supply to the Zakir Hussain Hospital was cut off after the tank's cork malfunctioned leading to a reduction in pressure.
At least 22 Covid patients died after an oxygen tanker leaked at a hospital in Nashik on Wednesday. Oxygen supply to the Zakir Hussain Hospital was cut off after the tank’s cork malfunctioned leading to a reduction in pressure.
Besides the dead, there were 158 patients receiving Covid treatment at the hospital.
Confirming the deaths, district collector Suraj Mandhare said most of the patients who died were “critically ill”. The supply has now been restored, Mandhare said.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant has demanded a probe into the incident. “We demand inquiry into the tragedy at Nasik’s Zakir Hussain Hospital. Anyone who is responsible must be brought to book. Hospital is managed by Nasik corporation which is under @BJP4Maharashtra rule. BJP must take responsibility. Where are Mayor & 3 BJP local MLAs? Absconding?” he tweeted.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, “So that this kind of episode does not repeat, we will prepare an SOP on management of oxygen plants and storage tankers. Oxygen is a precious commodity and we cannot afford to waste it. We will investigate what happened in Nashik Hospital.”