Oxygen shortage: 4 killed in private hospital in Maharashtra

At least four Covid-19 patients died, allegedly due to the shortage of medical oxygen, at Vedanta hospital in Thane, Maharashtra, on Monday. The Urban development minister Eknath Shinde and Housing minister Jitendra Awhad noted that the deceased patients were in a critical condition the past few days.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has demanded a detailed report and probe into the matter. Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pankaj Ashiya will conduct the probe and submit the report.

"Given the situation, the state government is making all possible efforts to tide over the shortage of medical oxygen... We are also procuring oxygen from other states via road, train or flights," Shinde said.

Meanwhile, the former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya called for the sacking of Health Minister Rajesh Tope over the incident. BJP legislator Niranjan Davkhare has also demanded that it must be ascertained whether the hospital administration or the Thane Municipal corporation is responsible for the tragedy.

This is the third tragedy in the state after the massive oxygen leak in Nashik civil hospital, which killed 29 patients on April 21, and the fire in a private hospital in Palghar, which killed 15.