Bengaluru: The tragic death of 23 people on Monday May 2, at Chamrajnagar Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS) at Chamraj district, allegedly due to a lack of oxygen supply, has left the state in despair. Officials from the district have denied that the patients did not die due to oxygen shortage at the hospital. “We’re waiting for the death audit report,” said S Suresh Kumar, the Chamarajanagar district in-charge minister. However, an official at CIMS stated that,” There was a shortage of oxygen supply between 12 midnight to 2 a.m.”
Political parties and individuals have taken this incident to social media platforms probing an investigation and resignation of Karnataka health minister K. Sudhakar. The Karnataka State Congress criticised the government in a series of tweet, pointing out that the incident was the product of criminal negligence on the part of the government. Thus, #ResignSudhakar is trending on Twitter on May 4.
????? @BSYBJP @mla_sudhakar ????,
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????????? ‘????’ ?????????, ???????? ?????? ??????? ‘????’? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????.#ResignSudhakar pic.twitter.com/Eap8hisfP5
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) May 3, 2021
“Who will bear the responsibility? Karnataka Chief Minister, Health Minister, Prime Minister?” asked the party.
Karnataka Congress president D.K Shivakumar tweeted that the government has completely failed to save the lives of people.
This Government has completely failed to save lives of citizens. Their incompetence and insensitiveness has been exposed again in the 24 unnecessary deaths due to Oxygen shortage in Chamarajanagar. On behalf of the people of Karnataka, we demand accountability.#ResignSudhakar
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 3, 2021
“Too many distress calls even today, two weeks since the surge. Don’t know when this will end. Just got off a call from a son pleading to help save his mother. Health infra has collapsed. ‘Oxygen Murders’ continue every day. Sadly, no accountability at all,” tweeted Congress politician Srivasta.
Too many distress calls even today, two weeks since the surge. Don’t know when this will end. Just got off a call from a son pleading to help save his mother :(
Health infra has collapsed. ‘Oxygen Murders’ continue everyday.
Sadly, no accountability at all.#ResignSudhakar
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) May 3, 2021
MLA Krishna Byre Gowda tweeted against the government that if the government had supplied oxygen, tragedy could have been avoided.
Loss of 24 lives in Chamarajanagr due to lack of oxygen is devastating.
These deaths are primarily due to Govt failure. Instead of threatening criminal cases for speaking of oxygen shortage, Govt had supplied oxygen, tragedy could have been avoided. #ResignSudhakar— Krishna Byre Gowda (@krishnabgowda) May 3, 2021
People are worried of the oxygen shortage in the state after this incident. However, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Dr K.V Rajendra confirmed that the district currently has sufficient oxygen and it is not facing any shortage of medical oxygen.
The government has ordered a probe into this incident and senior IAS officer Shivayogi Kalasad, who is also the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is assigned as the investigation officer.
