Hospital Oxygen Failure Kills Three in Jalandhar

A tragic incident at Jalandhar’s Civil Hospital claimed three lives on Sunday when a technical fault caused a sudden drop in oxygen pressure in the Trauma Ward’s ICU around 8 PM. The disruption, linked to an oxygen supply changeover, lasted a few minutes but led to the deaths of three critically ill patients within a 10-15 minute span, prompting widespread panic and an urgent investigation.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh, who visited the hospital, confirmed the patients—one with lung consolidation, another with multiple organ failure, and a third with a history of drug addiction—were in critical condition. “The oxygen supply was briefly cut but restored immediately,” Singh stated, noting a pressure drop of 1-2 minutes. He assured a thorough probe, with a team of doctors from Chandigarh tasked to deliver a report within 48 hours.

Civil Surgeon Dr. Vinay Kumar explained that a technical fault reduced oxygen flow, but backup cylinders were activated, and the issue was resolved within 5-10 minutes. “The patients’ deaths were due to their severe conditions, not directly the oxygen issue,” he claimed. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal confirmed an inquiry committee has been formed to pinpoint the cause and prevent future incidents. “If fault is found, action will be taken,” he said.

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The incident has raised concerns about hospital infrastructure and patient safety, with the administration under pressure to ensure accountability and implement safeguards to avoid such tragedies in the future.

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