Seventy-five patients have died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital – the state’s biggest Covid facility – in the past four days, because of “logistic issues” in the supply of medical oxygen.
Thirteen died on Friday, according to former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai, whose Goa Forward Party was allied with the ruling BJP before quitting last month over “anti-Goan policies”.
On Thursday 15 deaths were recorded. The day before – Wednesday – 21 people died, and on Tuesday 26 people lost their lives. All 75 deaths, Mr Sardesai told NDTV, took place in the “dark hours, which is the time from 1 am to 6 am…”
“Every day 20-25 people are dying due to oxygen shortage here. My friend died at 45. There is no proper planning by govt,” a friend of one of the deceased told news agency ANI.
The horror at the GMCH is continuing even as the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court is hearing petitions related to deaths during the “dark hours” at the premier hospital.
Videos of chaos at the numerous wards of the medical college have gone viral, with patients, relatives pleading for assistance as well as uploading emotive snapshots of helplessness and lack of hygiene in the health facility.
A video shot at ward number 145, shows patients sleeping on mattresses and with oxygen monitors beeping in the background and the dull echo of family members patting patients in a bid to reassure them. The video also shows debris of used food packets and other waste piled in a corner of the ward, spilling out of garbage bags.
In another video, shot by a relative at Ward 147, the relative complains of a procession of six to seven deaths at the hospital ward due to oxygen shortage. “The government says there is enough oxygen supply and is playing with the lives of people”.
