At least 22 patients died Wednesday in a hospital in western India after a power outage caused by a leaking tank, the health minister said, while a nationwide increase in coronavirus cases absorbs reserves of gas.
The incident in the city of Nashik, one of the most affected areas in India, took place after the oxygen tank leaked, said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra, the richest state where the city is located.
“Patients who were in ventilators at Nashik Hospital died,” Tope said in televised comments.
“The leak was spotted at the tank that supplies oxygen to these patients. Discontinued feeding could be linked to the death of hospital patients.”
The world’s second most populous nation reported 295,041 new infections on Wednesday – the highest daily increase reported in any country – expanding its hospitals to the point of rupture, officials said.
The United States alone saw a slightly higher increase of 297,430 cases in one day in January, although its number fell sharply. The 2,023 deaths in India were also the largest in the pandemic.
In addition to the alarm, the Serum Institute of India, which produces the AstraZeneca (AZN.L) COVID-19 vaccine, said it will be able to increase its monthly production to 100 million doses by July, from 60 to 70 millions now, later than the previous calendar at the end of May.
The delay could slow India’s immunization push, which the government has opened for all adults next month to try to stop the second deadly wave.
Hospitals in Delhi, the capital and elsewhere have warned that their supplies of medical oxygen, which are given to patients with severely ill COVIOD-19, are depleting as cases drain.
Max Healthcare, the largest private sector healthcare provider in Delhi and its suburbs, said some of its hospitals had only two hours of oxygen left.
“In recent days, the hospital has been facing serious difficulties in procuring adequate and regular amounts of oxygen,” a statement said.
“Currently, most hospitals in the network operate at dangerously low levels of oxygen supply, which can lead to a very serious adverse patient incident,” said Max.
Television showed footage of people with empty oxygen cylinders crowding refill facilities in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh as they rushed to rescue affected relatives in hospital.
The situation was so serious that some people tried to plunder an oxygen tank, forcing the authorities to strengthen security, said the health minister of the northern state of Haryana.
“From now on, we have ordered the protection of the police for all oil companies,” Anil Vij told Reuters partner ANI.
Lowering the guard
Health experts said India dropped its guard when the virus appeared to be under control in the winter, allowing large gatherings such as weddings and festivals.
India is now facing a coronavirus “storm” that overwhelms its health system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a national address overnight, adding that authorities are working with states and private companies to deliver oxygen with “speed and sensitivity”. .
Modi himself faces criticism for approaching crowded political rallies for local elections and for allowing a religious festival in which millions to take a ritual bath in the Ganges River, considered sacred by Hindus.
India has so far administered nearly 130 million doses of vaccine, the largest in the world after the United States and China, but still small compared to its population of 1.35 billion people. (Https://tmsnrt.rs/3tlH6Gq)
Vaccine doses have already been shortened in many states, although inoculations are currently limited to front-line workers and those over 45 years of age.
(Global Vaccination Tracker: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/vaccination-rollout-and-access/)
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