Senior doctor among 12 dead as oxygen runs low
NEW DELHI: Twelve Covid-19 patients, including a senior doctor, admitted to south Delhi’s Batra Hospital died on Saturday morning due to an 80-minute disruption in oxygen supply, a top hospital official said, underlining that the next 24-48 hours were critical for some patients whose condition deteriorated following the crisis.
Just a week ago, 20 Covid-19 patients admitted to Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi died after the pressure dropped in the oxygen supply when the hospital was switching from liquid medical oxygen to backup cylinders. Hospitals across the national capital have been sending out desperate messages for help, with the oxygen supply stretched thin amid a raging fourth wave of infections in Delhi.
At Batra hospital, eight patients died between 12:15pm and 01:35pm after the hospital ran out of liquid medical oxygen and had to switch to backup cylinders, according to people aware of the developments. By evening, the fatalities increased to 12, confirmed Dr Sudhanshu Bankata, executive director of the hospital.
One of those who died in the incident was the head of the gastroenterology department of the hospital. Dr RK Himthani was among those who died due to the lack of oxygen, said SCL Gupta, medical director of the hospital. Himthani had remained admitted at the hospital for the last 15-20 days, he said.
“Once the patient’s condition deteriorates, then you cannot save that patient. There is a ripple effect; there are many who must have been destabilised by now and the number of deaths is likely to go up. The next 24 to 48 hours will be critical for those who were impacted,” Dr Bankata said.
According to the hospital, it raised an alarm with government-appointed officials at 7am as it had not received its quota of oxygen. Despite informing them, the hospital did not receive its oxygen supply and ran dangerously low on liquid oxygen at 12:15pm on Saturday. Gupta said the hospital informed the authorities about the lack of oxygen when they had 2,500 litres of the life-saving gas left.