After 24 people died in one Indian hospital, many are attributing the deaths to a lack of oxygen. An investigation has been called for.
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge, India is facing a shortage of oxygen at many hospitals. Twenty-four COVID-19 patients died at a government-run hospital in the southern state of Karnataka on Sunday into Monday. Many people are attributing the deaths to a lack of oxygen and blaming the central government. “Died or Killed? My heartfelt condolences to their families. How much more suffering before the ‘system’ wakes up?” Indian National Congress member Rahul Gandhi tweeted. However, Chamarajanagar District In-Charge Minister S. Suresh Kumar said officials are waiting for a death audit report. “It’s not appropriate to say that all the 24 deaths happened due to oxygen shortage,” Kumar said, according to news agency PTI. “These deaths happened from Sunday morning to this morning. The oxygen shortage happened in the wee hours of Monday—from 12.30 am to 2.30 am.” “All the people who died may not have died due to oxygen shortage,” he added. The Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa called for an investigation. In a Twitter thread, Yediyurappa sent condolences to the family members of those lost at the Chamarajanagar district hospital and ordered an inquiry. “We will also ensure that such an incident is never repeated,” he said. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. As a catastrophic surge of the coronavirus sweeps through India, the leaders of 13 opposition parties urged the government to launch a free vaccination drive and ensure an uninterrupted flow of oxygen to all hospitals.
