25 critical patients die overnight at hospital in Indian capital, oxygen shortage, ineffective equipment reported

NEW DELHI - At least 25 critical patients admitted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi have died in the last 24 hours, hospital authorities said Friday.

The patients were reportedly on high-flow oxygen.

The hospital had flagged the shortage of oxygen, saying the supply was for only two more hours and that 60 more patients were at risk.

"Twenty-five sickest patients have died in last 24 hours. Oxygen will last another two hours. Ventilators and BiPAP (ventilators for invasive treatment) not working effectively. Resorting to manual ventilation in ICUs and Emergency. Major crisis likely. Lives of another 60 sickest patients at risk, need urgent intervention," local media quoted the hospital's Director in a statement as having said.

The hospital, one of the biggest private ones in the national capital, said on Thursday morning that it was running dangerously low on oxygen.

According to officials, there are over 700 COVID-19 patients admitted in the hospital.

The hospital chairman, however, said he did not link the deaths to oxygen shortage.

"I would not ascribe the deaths to oxygen shortage. A large number of patients are in serious condition in hospital. But we are facing severe oxygen shortage," chairman D S Rana was quoted by a local news channel as having said.

"We are doing manual ventilation to ensure patients survive. I am told oxygen has reached Delhi's border, should be reaching shortly."

Several hospitals have, over the past three days, flagged a crisis of oxygen supply, beds and medicines amid rising COVID-19 cases in the capital.

On Thursday evening, Delhi reported 26,169 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours and 306 deaths, the highest in a day.

India on Friday reported the world's biggest-ever daily surge with 332,730 new cases and 2,263 deaths, in the past 24 hours.

Reports said this is the fastest rise in cases and deaths any country has suffered until now since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

India is presently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

In wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across India have been reporting a shortage of oxygen supply and urged the federal government to replenish their stocks.