11 patients on ventilator die due to suspected oxygen leakage in Nashik, probe ordered

At least 11 patients who were on ventilators at a hospital in Maharashtra's Nashik died due to suspected oxygen leakage at a storage tank on Wednesday.

Image Credit: ANI

Mumbai: In a tragic incident, at least 11 patients, who were on ventilator support at a hospital in Maharashtra's Nashik, died due to suspected oxygen leakage at a storage tank on Wednesday.

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said these deaths could be linked to the interrupted supply of oxygen due to the leakage and ordered a probe into the incident.

#WATCH | An Oxygen tanker leaked while tankers were being filled at Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik, Maharashtra. Officials are present at the spot, operation to contain the leak is underway. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/zsxnJscmBp — ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2021

These patients were being treated at a hospital run by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for the COVID-19 patients.

"As per the information available with us, 11 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 11 patients in the hospital," Tope told reporters here.

Due to the valves leakage of the tanker in Nashik, there was massive Oxygen leakage. There must definitely have been an impact on the hospital it was going to but I'm yet to gather more information. We'll issue a press note after gathering more information: Maharashtra Health Min pic.twitter.com/E1mYVCicc8 — ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2021

He said the Maharashtra government will look into the matter and conduct a thorough probe. "We will issue a statement later after the investigation is over," Tope added.

A 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.