At least 22 patients died on Wednesday in a hospital in western India after a disruption to their oxygen supply caused by a leaking tank, the health minister said.
The incident in the city of Nashik, one of India's worst-hit areas, happened after the tank of gas leaked, said Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra state, where the city is located.
"Patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik died," Mr Tope said.
"The leakage was spotted at the tank supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the patients in the hospital."
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A pedestrian walks past a wall mural thanking frontline workers following restrictions imposed by the state government amidst rising Covid-19 coronavirus cases, in Mumbai. AFP -
The country of almost 1.4 billion people is seeing a crippling surge of infections that are threatening to overwhelm hospitals in hard-hit cities. AP Photo -
Health workers put on personal protective equipment prior to caring for patients at a makeshift Covid-19 quarantine facility set up in a banquet hall in New Delhi, India. Bloomberg -
A patient with breathing problems is wheeled inside a Covid-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters -
India's makeshift rail carriage hospitals. Courtesy Ministry of Railways -
A patient wears an oxygen mask as she lies inside an ambulance waiting in a queue to enter a Covid-19 hospital in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters -
People wearing protective masks wait to enter the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus railway station in Mumbai, India. Reuters -
Patients wait inside an ambulance in a queue to enter a Covid-19 hospital amidst the coronavirus disease pandemic, Ahmedabad, India. Reuters -
A patient with breathing problems is wheeled inside a Covid-19 hospital for treatment in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters -
People are administered the Covid-19 vaccine in Mumbai, India. AP Photo -
A healthcare worker checks the temperature of a rice mill worker during a coronavirus disease vaccination drive at Bavla village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. Reuters -
Beds with oxygen support are seen at a recently constructed quarantine facility for patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease in Mumbai, India. Reuters -
People wearing protective masks stand outside a railway station amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India. Reuters
The world's second most populous nation reported 295,041 new infections on Wednesday – the world's highest daily increase – stretching its hospitals to breaking point, officials said.
Only the United States had a slightly higher one-day rise of 297,430 cases in January, although its tally has since fallen sharply.
India's 2,023 deaths were also its highest in the pandemic.
On Tuesday, hospitals in Delhi, the capital, said they had enough oxygen left for just another eight to 24 hours, while some private institutions had enough for only four or five.
The situation was so severe that some people had tried to loot an oxygen tanker, forcing authorities to beef up security, said the health minister of the neighbouring state of Haryana.
"From now, I've ordered police protection for all tankers," Anil Vij told Reuters partner ANI.
Television showed images of people with empty oxygen cylinders crowding refilling facilities as they scrambled to save stricken relatives in hospital.
"We were completely blocked out of supplies yesterday but by the end of the day we received some and it is helping us today," said Charu Sachdeva, an official at the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre in the capital.
In the northern city of Lucknow, one man said a hospital had asked him to arrange oxygen supplies for his uncle or take him away because it had run out.
Delhi, a city of 20 million people, recorded 28,395 new cases and 277 deaths on Tuesday, its highest tally since the pandemic began. Every third person tested for coronavirus proved positive.
About 80 of 142 hospitals in Delhi had no beds left for virus patients, government figures showed.
New Delhi businessman Saurabh Mittal said he called a hospital shown in a government database to have beds free, only to be told they were full and could not take anyone.
"I told them there is online availability but they said the real-time data showed no beds," said Mr Mittal, who had been trying to arrange treatment for a virus sufferer.
India faces a coronavirus storm overwhelming its health system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a national address overnight. He said authorities were working with states and private companies to deliver oxygen with "speed and sensitivity".
Delhi, like large parts of India, let its guard down when the virus seemed to be under control, allowing big gatherings such as weddings and festivals as daily infections fell below 1,000 during the winter, health experts said.
