NEW DELHI, Apr 23: At least 13 Covid patients were killed in a fire in a hospital in Virar in Maharashtra, 25 “sickest” Corona patients died in Sir Ganga Ram hospital in Delhi reportedly due to low oxygen pressure. This was in addition to the 2,263 new Corona deaths reported in the last 24 hours in the country till Friday morning when India also created a new record of daily cases climbing up to 3.32 lakhs.
Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram hospital, which treats hundreds of coronavirus patients, had been complaining of acute oxygen shortage for the last couple of days. On Friday it saw the death of 25 “sickest” patients over low oxygen pressure, the hospital said.
It had issued an SOS to the governments at 8 a.m., saying that only two hours of oxygen is available, and the ventilator and BiPAP are not “working effectively.” At 9.20 a.m., it said that the oxygen tanker has reached as is being offloaded.
“This will last 4 to 5 hrs, depending on consumption,” a hospital spokesperson said.
The hospital had 510 COVID-19 patients under its care.
In an early morning statement, the hospital had said “25 sickest patients have died in last 24 hrs at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Oxygen will last another 2 hrs. Ventilators and Bipap not working effectively. Resorting to manual ventilation in ICUs and ED.” The BiPAP machine (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) is a non-invasive machine used to provide oxygen to patients.
The statement had added that a major crisis is likely and that the lives of another 60 “sickest patients” are in peril. “Need Oxygen to be airlifted urgently. Governments please help,” it said.
A source at the hospital said “Low pressure oxygen could be the likely cause of at least some of these 25 deaths over the past 24-hour.”
The Max Healthcare stopped mew admissions because of oxygen shortage. Two other hospitals in the national capital city, Max Smart Hospital and Max Hospital Saket, too said they had less than an hour’s oxygen supply currently.
“Less than an hour’s Oxygen supplies at Max Smart Hospital & Max Hospital Saket. Awaiting promised fresh supplies from INOX since 1 a.m. Over 700 patients admitted, need immediate assistance,” the hospital said in a statement.
Later, the hospital group said it has stopped new admissions in all its hospitals in Delhi-NCR due to low oxygen stocks.
“We regret to inform that we are suspending any new patient admissions in all our hospitals in Delhi NCR till oxygen supplies stabilise,” Max Healthcare said in a statement.
The group has at least six hospitals in the region and a total of over 1,000 beds.
Hospitals in Delhi have been facing an oxygen shortage. Delhi government has blamed Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments for not allowing smooth supply of oxygen from private oxygen plants in the States to Delhi.
Closely following the mishap in Nasik in which 24 Corona patients died due to oxygen leakage, 13 Covid patients died in a fire in an intensive care unit at the Vijay Vallabh hospital in Palghar district’s Virar on Friday.
According to district officials, the ICU unit is at the second floor of the four-storey hospital and a total of 17 patients were undergoing treatment at the time of the incident. The fire started in the air conditioning unit of the hospital’s ICU. There were 17 patients in the ICU at that time. “The incident occurred after 3 am and within 5 mins Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation fire brigade reached the spot. The fire was put out within minutes, but 13 of the 17 patients had died by then,” said deputy commissioner Kishore Gavas.
According to information from the State government, “While 13 patients died in the tragedy, the surviving patients have been moved to different hospitals to safety and further treatment,” said an official.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced financial aid of ₹5 lakh to the kin of the deceased and ₹1 lakh to those injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too approved ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives.
“The fire at a Covid-19 hospital in Virar is tragic. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” said Modi.
State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said Thackeray had ordered an investigation into the incident. In March, a fire broke out at a hospital in Mumbai’s suburban Bhandup, which claimed nine lives. In January, 10 infants died after a fire broke out at a special newborn care unit of Bhandara district hospital in Bhandara district of Vidarbha.
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis questioned the government on its preparedness and successive announcements of conducting fire audits.
“It is being said after every incident that fire audit will be conducted across the State. At a time when hospitals are running under pressure, the government seems to be avoiding its responsibility,” he said.
(Manas Dasgupta)