The Karnataka government has ordered a probe after 24 Covid-19 patients died at a government district hospital at Chamaraajanagar in Karnataka shortly after midnight. According to reports, a drop in oxygen supply led to patients’ deaths.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has spoken to the district collector and has called for a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Karnataka Home Minister Basvaraja Bommai has asked DGP Praveen Sood to investigate the incident. District minister S Suresh Kumar told news agencies that he has sought a death audit report on the incident and will take action against those responsible.
According to reports, hospitals officials said that the deaths took place after a fall in oxygen supply between 12 am and 2 am on Sunday. It is reported that the oxygen supply from Mysore did not reach the government hospital on time.
The incident comes weeks after the Karnataka Chief Minister wrote to the Centre to increase the allocation of medical grade oxygen supply to the state. He informed the Centre that Karnataka needs more oxygen allocation due to rising cases.
Meanwhile, the opposition and bereaved relatives are blaming the state government for the incident. In a tweet, senior Congress Leader offered his condolences to the bereaved families and asked how much more should suffer before the ‘system’ wakes up.
Ever since the second Covid-19 wave struck India, there has been mass reporting of oxygen shortage in the country. The High Courts of several states have come down heavily on the Centre and state governments over the crisis.
