Agra based Shri Paras Hospital was sealed on Tuesday following a widespread uproar over the alleged death of 22 Covid-19 patients from lack of oxygen on April 26. A video related to the incident went viral in which hospital owner Dr Arinjay Jain was seen describing a so-called 'mock drill' in which the oxygen supply was shut down for five minutes.
In the video, Jain then goes on to say that patients showed severe hypoxia symptoms during the mock drill and their hands and feet turned blue. It is alleged that these 22 patients later died and their deaths were covered up.
District Magistrate Prabhu N. Singh said that a case will be registered against the hospital under the Epidemic Act. There are 55 patients admitted in the hospital, who will be shifted to another medical facility by the team of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
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However, he denied the allegations of 22 people dying due to lack of oxygen. He said that only four deaths took place at the hospital due to Covid-19 complications and there was no shortage of oxygen at any time, India Today reported.
On the other hand, the hospital management denied that any mock drill had been done to stop oxygen.
Meanwhile, in a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Paras Healthcare has clarified that 'Shree Paras Hospital' which is a local hospital in the city of Agra, has no association with the Paras Hospitals Group in any way.
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The statement said that media reports referred to the hospital as Paras Hospital instead of Shree Paras Hospital which is unnecessarily having a negative impact on the image of the reputed healthcare group.
Earlier on Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had demanded strict action against those responsible for the deaths.
"There is an acute shortage of oxygen and humanity in BJP rule. There should be strict action against those responsible for the heinous crime. My condolences are with the family members of the deceased in this hour of grief," the former Congress President wrote on Twitter.
