Eleven patients have died, including children, at a hospital in central India reportedly due to disruption in oxygen supply during the early hours on Thursday.
According to reports in the Indian press, the supply of oxygen snapped between 3 am and 4 am at MY Hospital in Indore (Madhya Pradesh)- the largest medical facility in central India, leading to the deaths.
A vernacular daily, Nayi Duniya, reported family members attending to some patients rushed to the doctors to report the disruption in oxygen supply.
But the hospital administration has refuted claims the deaths were caused by lack of oxygen or any other negligence. A senior state government functionary said an investigation would be ordered if required.
A report by claims “highly placed hospital sources” confirmed there was a disruption in oxygen supply around 3 am. But with no official records of gas supply logs available, and the oxygen plant staff nowhere to be found, senior officials of the hospital declined to make any comment.
“There was no break in oxygen supply. The deaths are routine in a 1400-bed hospital,” said Sanjay Dubey, Divisional Commissioner. “The hospital records 10-20 deaths a day.”
The hospital authorities said 16 patients died in the 24 hours since 8am Wednesday morning. Hospital superintendent Dr V S Pal claimed that 11 persons had died in the night but refused to give any details, including time of deaths.
The same hospital came under scanner in May last year when two children died in the paediatric operation theatre because they were given nitrogen instead of oxygen.
