Nashik oxygen tanker leak incident claims 22 lives, PM Modi, Amit Shah express grief

Nashik: At least 22 deaths have been confirmed at Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) hospital on Wednesday (April 21) where the tanker leak led to shortage of oxygen meant for the patients.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the tragedy and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

“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,” said PM Modi in a tweet.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled the loss of life in the tragic accident.

"Distressed to hear the news of the accident. I express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this incident,” Shah said.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope expressed grief over the incident and ordered a probe into it.

"Patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died," Tope said.

"The leakage was spotted at the tank supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the patients in the hospital," he added.

"The liquid oxygen which was filled in the tank has the temperature of around minus 180-degree celsius. There is extreme pressure on the walls of the tank which supplies the oxygen to patients on ventilators. It is more of a technical issue," he further said.

Tope said a probe will ascertain whether the leakage was caused due to negligence or due to any other issue.

video of oxygen purportedly leaking from the storage plant has gone viral on social media since this morning.

Some relatives of the deceased COVID-19 patients have alleged that the "lowered supply of oxygen" claimed the lives of their kin.