4 Covid patients die in Rewari hospital amid oxygen shortage

ROHTAK : Four patients died in a private hospital in Rewari on Sunday allegedly due to a shortage of medical oxygen following which the district administration launched an investigation to ascertain the reason behind the deaths.

After the deaths in Rewari, relatives of some of the patients, who were admitted to the designated Covid facility, held a protest outside the building complex alleging there was a grave shortage of medical oxygen.

The son of a 56-year-old woman who died said his mother was admitted to Virat Hospital and was on oxygen support. “She complained of difficulty in breathing and requested the hospital staff to help but to no avail,” he said.

Dharmender Kumar, operational head of Virat Hospital, said that 114 Covid-infected patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital. “Three patients died in ICU, while one died in the ward. We need over 300 oxygen cylinders on a daily basis, but our supply has been reduced. We have been repeatedly telling the administration about this and sending them reminders,” he added.

Rewari civil surgeon Dr Sushil Mahi denied that the patients died due to shortage of oxygen. “

“We had provided additional 140 gas cylinders to the private hospital on Saturday evening and there is no shortage of oxygen supply. Had low oxygen pressure been the cause of death, other patients would have also been impacted,” he added.

Former minister and senior Congress leader Ajay Yadav reached the hospital and blamed the district health officials for not providing oxygen supply to the private hospital.

Mahendergarh deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar, who has additional charge of Rewari DC, said that a committee under the supervision of ADC Rahul Hooda has been formed to investigate the matter and submit report within 48 hours.