At least 24 people died at a COVID hospital in Chamrajnagar district of Karnataka on Sunday allegedly due to lack of oxygen supply. The deaths occurred at the Chamrajnagar government district hospital. The government has, however, denied that lack of oxygen supply was the reason behind the deaths.
“There were 24 deaths at the hospital, not all at the same time. 14 people died between Sunday morning to midnight, three patients died between 12 and 3am. Between 3am and Monday morning, seven more patients died. There was oxygen shortage at 10.30pm which was sorted by getting 60 oxygen cylinders from Mysore. 60 more cylinders arrived on Monday morning. The district has a requirement of 300-350 cylinders which is not being fulfilled,” said Dr MR Ravi, Deputy Commissioner, Chamrajnagar.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa spoke to the deputy commissioner to gather details about the incident while Health Minister K Sudhakar and primary and secondary education minister Suresh Kumar left for Chamrajnagar on Monday morning to take stock of the situation.
“The deputy commissioner has said that the deaths were due to other comorbities and not due to lack of oxygen supply. I am visiting the hospital to get more details,” said Suresh Kumar, who’s also the district in-charge minister.
The Opposition has called the incident a criminal negligence. “Criminal negligence has led to these 24 deaths in Karnataka. Why do CM @BSYBJP & Minister @mla_sudhakar keep lying everyday saying there is enough oxygen? Is there no accountability? How many more will be ‘killed’ because Govt can’t supply Oxygen?,” tweeted DK Shivakumar, KPCC president.
Meanwhile, Yediyurappa has called an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday at 4pm.
Karnataka’s Covid-19 tally crossed the 16 lakh mark on Sunday following 37,733 fresh infections while 217 more deaths took the toll to 16,011, the health department said. According to a health bulletin, the state’s Covid tally stood at 16,01,865 whereas there are 4,21,436 active cases.
As many as 11,64,398 people were discharged cumulatively including 21,149 on Sunday in the state. Bengaluru urban district accounted for 21,199 fresh cases and 64 deaths. The city has so far reported 7,97,292 infections and 6,601 deaths.
(With inputs from Nandeesh in Chamrajnagar)
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram.
Comments
0 comment