22 died at the Dr Zakir Hussain NMC Hospital in Nashik, Maharashtra, as the oxygen cylinder tank leaked. Experts reported that this leakage was due to a valve malfunction. This caused the oxygen that was supposed to be used by the hospital to be wasted, causing patients to die due to oxygen deficit. The hospital had been housing at least 157 patients at the time of the accident.
Nashik District Collector Suraj Mandhare who was present during the time of the disaster said, “This tanker is from a private vendor. Apparently, technicians were tried to fix the valve when low pressure caused the leakage. This led to the deaths of 22 critical patients who were on ventilator support. My deepest condolences to the kin of the deceased.” Mandhare went on to say, “Currently, the other patients are being supplied oxygen from the repaired tanker. They are in a stable condition, as per medical authorities.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences towards this disaster in a tweet by saying, “The tragedy at a hospital in Nashik because of oxygen tank leakage is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. Condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour.”
The tragedy at a hospital in Nashik because of oxygen tank leakage is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. Condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2021
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