Atleast six patients, comprising five Covid-19, died in a private hospital inAmritsar in Punjab early Saturday after they lost oxygen supply due to itsshortage.
Familymembers of victims said there was no oxygen flowing to ventilators in NeelkanthMultispecialty Hospital, situated at Fatehgarh Churian road, leading to theirdeaths.
Oneof the deceased patients brother said that late night the patients started pantingand were struggling to breath. The oxygen supply ran out and there was all chaosat the hospital. The family members also accused hospital staff of refusing tohandover the bodies to relatives.
Theyfamily members said that they were informed late Friday night by hospitalauthorities that oxygen supply from the government was running short and theyshould make arrangement of it.
Adoctor of the hospital informed the media that they had expressed concernseveral times over the delay in replenishing medical oxygen cylinders and alsoof running out of its supply with the district authorities.
"Wewere told by a nodal official of the health department that the priority ofsupplying oxygen is to the government hospitals. After that the demand from theprivate hospitals will be met," he added.
Punjabtoo is reeling under a severe shortage of medical oxygen amid a surge in Covidcases.