A top official at the Jaipur Golden Hospital in Delhi said today that twenty people died last night due to a lack of medical oxygen, highlighting the deteriorating condition in the national capital’s hospitals.
“We had been allotted 3.5 metric tonnes of oxygen from the government. The supply was to reach us by 5 in the evening, but it reached around midnight. By then, 20 patients had died,” Dr. DK Baluja, Medical Director at Jaipur Golden Hospital, told media.
He noted that at least 215 Covid patients admitted to the hospital are critically ill and in desperate need of oxygen.
This morning, Jaipur Golden Hospital became the city’s second hospital to issue an SOS due to a lack of oxygen.
Moolchand Hospital had earlier requested immediate assistance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal in a tweet. It stated that more than 130 Covid patients are on life support.
“SOS assistance is required immediately. @Moolchand Hos has less than 2 hours of oxygen supply. We’ve tried all of the nodal officer numbers but haven’t been able to bind. I have over 135 COVID points, all of which are on life support. @ArvindKejriwal @CMODelh i@LtGovDelhi @satinderjain26 @PMOIndia (sic), @ArvindKejriwal @CMODelh i@LtGovDelhi “read Moolchand Healthcare’s tweet from this morning. According to reports, the hospital has halted new patient admissions until the problem is resolved.
Madhu Handa, Medical Director of Moolchand Hospital, broke down in tears when she described the condition to Media. “We’re down to about 30 minutes (of oxygen supply), but notice has been taken, and nodal officers have been dispatched. However, I believe that other hospitals are facing a similar issue. As a result, they must now prioritize.”
Several hospitals have reported a shortage of oxygen, beds, and drugs in the last three days as the number of Covid cases has risen, and many have turned to the Delhi High Court for assistance.
The court has ordered the Centre to strictly adhere to its order to supply medical oxygen to Delhi and to ensure that there is no barrier in the way of oxygen. “Beg, borrow, or steal,” the judges wrote, urging the center that if hospitals run out of air, “all hell will break loose.”
Last night, 348 people died in Delhi as a result of Covid, the most in a single day so far. In addition to the fourth Covid wave, the city recorded 24,331 new coronavirus cases.
