Goa Nightmare : As Oxygen Level Dips, More COVID-19 Patients Die, Toll Now Above 70

Picture : Twitter / ANI

Fifteen more COVID-19 patients died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in the early hours of Thursday, the state government told the Bombay High Court, two days after 26 coronavirus patients had succumbed at the same facility .

As per state government statistics, 26 patients had died at the GMCH during the wee hours of Tuesday, followed by 21 on Wednesday, 15 on Thursday and 13 on Friday (total 75).

While the state government has not revealed the exact cause of recent deaths at the GMCH, it has told the HC that there were “logistic issues” related to supply of medical oxygen to patients.

The Goa bench of the HC said state authorities told it some of the casualties may have taken place due to “logistical issues” related to connecting oxygen cylinders to the manifold (group of large gas cylinders) that resulted in interruption and drop in pressure in supply lines of oxygen to patients.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress communication in charge and chief party spokesman, lashed out at the ruling BJP government headed by Pramod Sawant . In a tweet,  Surjewala wrote this is ‘murder’ in broad daylight

The HC observed that despite its order on providing medical oxygen to COVID-19 patients at the GMCH, there were 15 deaths during the dark hours of 2 am and 6 am in the government-run facility on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Goa Forward Party has filed a complaint against Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Chief Secy Parimal Rai & nodal officer for oxygen allocation to hospitals Swetika Sachan “for causing deaths of several COVID19 patients due to interrupted supply of O2 in Goa Medical College Hospital”

“Every day 20-25 people are dying due to oxygen shortage here. My friend died at 45. There is no proper planning by govt,” says a friend of one of deceased to ANI.