Oxygen Crisis: 13 Die At Nellai Government Hospital Due To Lack Of Critical Supply

13 people died in Nellai government hospital due to lack of oxygen. Thoothukudi District Collector Senthilraj who has been inspecting the situation in the area, denied the oxygen crisis.

Nellai: Thirteen patients have died at Nellai Government Medical College Hospital due to lack of oxygen.

As the second wave of coronavirus spreads rapidly in the country, government hospitals are struggling to meet the required oxygen supply which is causing a high number of deaths in the country. In states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, the shortage of oxygen caused fatalities and shocked the country.

Meanwhile, shocking news has come in from Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital where 13 patients who were admitted to the emergency department died due to lack of oxygen between 4 pm and 5.30 pm yesterday.

Following this, a small oxygen cylinder was brought from ESI Hospital and Gangaikondan Sipkot area and given to the patients as temporary relief. Around 6 pm yesterday, a 3,000-liter oxygen storage tank brought in from ISRO was being filled with oxygen and delivered.

It has been reported that the vehicle from Thanjavur with six thousand liters of oxygen was reaching Nellai.

The hospital has 800 beds with oxygen facility which are already occupied. More than 40 deaths are reported every day as people with corona infection and other medical conditions die due to a lack of proper treatment. It was reported last evening that due to a low supply of oxygen, 13 patients who were undergoing treatment died without oxygen.

The District Collector immediately inspected the area on the basis of information provided by the relatives of the deceased. After the failing attempts to bring in oxygen from alternative locations, it was decided to bring in oxygen from the Sterlite plant from Thoothukudi.

Accordingly, the distribution of oxygen produced at the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi began today. Chairman of the monitoring committee and Collector of Thoothukudi, Senthilraj made the required arrangements.

Oxygen has been sent to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital from the Sterlite plant on the basis of immediate need for oxygen.

“5 kiloliters of oxygen was produced from the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi in the first phase. 5 kiloliters will be produced for the first 3 days. Shortly thereafter, 35 tons of oxygen will be produced. It is currently being sent to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital. The oxygen produced in the Sterlite plant will be sent throughout Tamil Nadu as required under the guidance of the Tamil Nadu Medical Association.” Thoothukudi District Collector Senthilraj said. The district collector also said that patients did not die due to lack of oxygen.

The shortage of beds in neighboring districts is forcing people to move to Chennai. Thus, the ambulances are stranded here.

Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Kallakurichi, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, and Ranipettai districts are facing the unavailability of oxygen beds. No bed is vacant in other districts like Salem, Thenkasi, Theni, Tirupattur, Thiruvarur, Villupuram, and Thiruvannamalai. ICU beds are reportedly available only in Kanyakumari, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, and Virudhunagar districts.

The day before yesterday, reportedly 11 patients died due to lack of oxygen in Tirupati.