Three patients die of oxygen shortage at Chamrajnagar COVID hospital, 23 deaths reported in 24hrs
DC rules out reports that all of them died of oxygen shortage
Chamrajnagar: Three patients at the District COVID-19 hospital here have reportedly died due to a shortage of oxygen at the facility on late Sunday night triggering speculations that more people might have also died due to a shortage of oxygen as several deaths have been reported in the hospital lately.
On Sunday night, reports added the hospital ran out of oxygen supply and at least three people died. Reports further added the oxygen that was supposed to be supplied to the hospital from Mysuru was not supplied.
MP Pratap Simha however procured 50 jumbo cylinders of oxygen and has dispatched them to the hospital but the hospital requires at least 150 jumbo oxygen cylinders a day.
Among those dead on Sunday night, was a newly married man Surendra, a resident of Doddahomma village in Nanjanagudu Taluk of Mysuru district whose family has accused that he died due to a shortage of oxygen at the hospital. His family added that Surendra had made a video call to them saying patients in the hospital had died due to a shortage of oxygen and that he was struggling to breathe as well.
The Chamarajanagar COVID hospital has 24 ventilators, 53 ICU, and 55 oxygen beds. Presently, all of them have been occupied by critical patients.
It is learned that the medical facility received the oxygen supply daily from the Southern gas agency in Mysuru. The hospital has a requirement of 280 Jumbo cylinders of oxygen. In the last Friday’s state-wide District Collector’s video conference, the government’s chief secretary had assigned the responsibility of delivering oxygen supply to Chamarajanagar and Coorg districts to agencies in Mysuru.
Reports have further scrutinized the district administration as they suggest at least 23 COVID patients have died in the last 24 hours at the Chamrajnagar COVID hospital alone.
The Deputy Commissioner of the district however ruled out the reports that all of them died due to oxygen shortage. Speaking to the media on Monday morning, Chamrajnagar DC Dr. MR Ravi said “In the 12 hours duration between Sunday morning to midnight, 14 patients have died. Later, in the 7 hours duration since today (Monday) morning, 7 more COVID patients have breathed their last. Among the 23 deceased, 18 of them died after suffering from COVID and other serious illnesses. All of them were in the hospital for the past 2 weeks and being treated on the ventilator. Therefore it is not right to say that all of them died due to shortage of oxygen”.
“On Sunday night, around 10.30 pm, information came in from the District COVID hospital that there is a possibility of imminent oxygen shortage. They had relayed that, there could be oxygen shortage around 2 am in the later hours of the night. I had then immediately contacted the oxygen supplying establishment in Mysuru and made arrangements for the oxygen. Within 12.30 am, we were able to procure some oxygen cylinders. Around 2.30 am, 60 to 70 oxygen cylinders were brought in, and around 6 in the morning, 60 more oxygen cylinders were delivered in from Mysuru. Therefore, we cannot say that 23 COVID patients have all died of oxygen shortage”, the Deputy Commissioner said.
“Mysuru is unable to supply adequate amounts of oxygen. Various issues are arising because of this. This issue has been brought to the attention of the government, and requests have been made asking them to create appropriate measures to tackle this”, the District Commissioner informed.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
