At least 22 COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra's Nashik this afternoon, April 21, after an oxygen tanker leaked outside a hospital, disrupting supply to patients for around 30 minutes.
The incident took place at Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik when tankers were being filled. About 171 patients were on oxygen in the hospital.
While the operation was underway to control the situation, visuals showed gas leaking from the tanker outside the hospital and dense white fumes covering the area rapidly.
All the victims were on ventilators and in need of a constant oxygen supply. Zakir Hussain Hospital is a Covid-dedicated facility.
On the other hand, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope promised the government will look into the matter and conduct a thorough probe.
As per the information available to us, patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died. 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, Tope added.
Fire trucks were rushed to the spot to stop the leak. Videos showed water sprayed to control the leak; the firefighting team also wore protective gear.
Around 31 patients out of 80 who need oxygen have been shifted to other hospitals.
An official of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office said that the victims' families will be compensated with INR 5 lakhs each. A high-level probe into the matter will be launched, the official added.
Meanwhile, State Minister Aaditya Thackeray called the incident unfortunate and promised a probe in the matter.
नाशिक येथील डॉ. झाकीर हुसैन रुग्णालयातील दुर्घटना अत्यंत दुर्दैवी आहे. आम्ही सगळेच या सर्व कुटुंबांच्या दु:खात सहभागी आहोत. पालकमंत्री @ChhaganCBhujbal जी आणि सर्व अधिकारी मुख्यमंत्री उद्धव ठाकरे साहेबांच्या संपर्कात आहेत. ह्या दुर्दैवी घटनेची सखोल चौकशी केली जाईल.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 21, 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2021
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