New Delhi: Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram hospital, which treats hundreds of coronavirus patients, saw the death of 25 ‘sickest’ patients today over low oxygen pressure, the hospital said.
In a statement, the hospital had said, ’25 sickest patients have died in last 24 hrs at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Oxygen will last another 2 hrs. Ventilators and Bipap not working effectively. Resorting to manual ventilation in ICUs and ED.’
The BiPAP machine (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) is a non-invasive machine used to provide oxygen to patients.
The statement had added that a major crisis is likely and that the lives of another 60 ‘sickest patients’ are in peril. ‘Need Oxygen to be airlifted urgently. Governments please help,’ it said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, ‘false reports that they died due to lack of O2. When O2 pressure lowered in ICU beds, gave patients O2 manually. Didn’t let anyone die without O2. Inox told us after getting state govt’s NOC, they’ll supply 9000-10,000 cubic meters of O2 daily.’
A Central government source said the SGRH has ‘sufficient balance of oxygen and a tanker has reached the hospital, which will fill up the storage capacity’.
In the meantime, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, highlighted the crippling oxygen crisis in hospitals in the capital. ‘People are in major pain due to oxygen shortage. We fear that a big tragedy is looming large and a national plan is needed to deal with situation. I request with folded hands that the PM gives direction to CMs to ensure smooth movement of oxygen tankers coming to Delhi,’ he said. He added that the Centre should take over all oxygen plants and every truck should be accompanied by an escort vehicle of the Army.