24 dead in K’taka, kin allege O2 shortage
BENGALURU: The BS Yediyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka came under heavy criticism on Monday after 24 Covid-19 infected persons died in the span of a day allegedly due to shortage of oxygen in Chamarajanagar district, about 175 km from Bengaluru.
The state government has been accused of not preparing adequately to deal with the second wave of infections and has now swung into action to contain the damage to its image. “Three people died due to shortage of oxygen between 12 and 3 am (on Monday morning),” said K Sudhakar, state health, family welfare and medical education minister. He did not specify how the others died.
He added that there were 123 Covid patients in the district hospital, of which 14 were on ventilators, 36 on non invasive ventilation, 58 on Hyperbaric oxygen and 29 breathing with the help of oxygen cylinders.
The government has sought a report on the incident within three days. “Strict action will be taken at the earliest...,” Yediyurappa said in a post on Twitter.
Relatives and others were seen crying and cursing the government outside the hospital in Chamarajanagar, levelling allegations of dereliction of duty and that there were not enough doctors to tend to the critically ill. Several of them also alleged that the district was facing oxygen shortage.
The incident has sparked off a blame game between the district administrations of Mysuru and Chamrajanagar, two neighbouring districts over delays in supply of oxygen. A section of the Chamarajanagar administration is alleging that Mysuru DC Rohini Sindhuri delayed the dispatch of oxygen as she retained most of it for use in her own district, which is one of the worst Covid-19 hit regions outside Bengaluru. Sindhuri could not be reached for comment.
“Died or Killed? My heartfelt condolences to their families. How much more suffering before the ‘system’ wakes up?” Rahul Gandhi of the Congress posted on Twitter.
The district in-charge minister of Chamrajanagar, Suresh Kumar, hinted that there was a shortage of oxygen in the district and that requests were made to fulfil them. ST Somashekar, the district in-charge minister of Mysuru said that the oxygen, which comes from Ballari was dispatched to Chamarajnagar on time.