Category: Maharashtra

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Maharashtra approves Rs 11,500 crore aid package

As an immediate measure, the government will provide Rs 10,000 to all affected families for loss of clothes, household utensils, furniture, etc…reports Asian Lite News

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced the much-anticipated relief package of Rs 11,500 crore for emergency relief, repairs and long-term rehabilitation measures for the victims of the recent devastating floods which hit 9 districts last month.

The decision was taken at a crucial cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and ministers of all three allies — Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, said Relief & Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar.

As an immediate measure, the government will provide Rs 10,000 to all affected families for loss of clothes, household utensils, furniture, etc, he said.

Minorities Affairs Minister Nawab Malik said that around 4 lakh hectares of agricultural lands have been completely ravaged in the flood havoc and 20 per cent of the balance work of recording ‘panchnamas’ is still underway.

However, all the affected people will be provided sufficient aid to help them rebuild their lives and he urged the Centre to come forward and help the state grappling with the huge crisis, he added.

Among the highlights, of the total fund, Rs 1,500 crore is for assistance, Rs 3,000 crore for reconstruction activities of the ravaged regions, and Rs 7,000 crore for flood mitigation measures in these areas, said Thackeray.

The government will extend relief of Rs 150,000 per house pucca/kutchha house, which was destroyed completely, Rs 50,000 for homes which suffered 50 per cent destruction, and Rs 25,000 for homes with 25 percent damage, and Rs 15,000 for lesser havoc, and Rs 15,000 for each hutment destroyed.

In urban centres, the payment would be as per eligibility for slums under the rehabilitation for a declared slum belt and in rural areas, those eligible for regularisation but not yet regularised shall be entitled for the aid.

Authorised shopkeepers, who are are local residents, shall be given up to a maximum of Rs 50,000 or upto 75 per cent of the actual losses as per the panchnamas, and local stall-owners will get maximum aid of Rs 10,000 or upto 75 per cent of their loss.

For the loss of dairy animals, the payout would be Rs 40,000 per animal – pulling animals between Rs 20,000/Rs 30,000 per animal, sheep, goats, pigs at Rs 3,000 per creature with limitation of 30 small milch animals per family, Rs 50 per poultry bird with a maximum of 100 birds per family, and Rs 5,000 for lost poultry sheds.

Fisherfolk, who suffered substantially, shall be entitled to Rs 25,000 for total loss of boats, Rs 10,000 for partial damage, and upto Rs 5,000 for loss of fishing nets.

Local artisans/craftspersons shall be given upto 75 per cent of their actual losses or maximum of Rs 50,000, with 12 categories included for the aid.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Aditi Tatkare demanded that the Centre should immediately sanction Rs 1,000 crore towards flood aid in the state, while Congress’ former MP Hussain Dalwai said that the package had not given sufficient aid to the worst-hit Konkan region.

A record downpour aggravated by other circumstances resulted in massive floods in nine districts of the coastal Konkan and western Maharashtra in the fourth week of July, besides tragedies of landslips, hillslides, house-crashes, waterlogging for several days, etc.

ALSO READ: Flood-scarred Maharashtra’s toll zooms to 149
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COVID-19 India News Maharashtra

Lockdown extended in Maharashtra till June 15

The state government also released a set of guidelines in the wake of lockdown extension…reports Asian Lite News

The Maharashtra government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state by 15 days till June 15.

“Lockdown is being extended for 15 days, shall be in place till June 15 now. Depending on the case tally of districts, certain relaxations and restrictions will be enforced,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said.

The state government also released a set of guidelines in the wake of lockdown extension.

“All essential shops that are currently allowed to operate between 7-11 am may be allowed to operate between 7 am to 2 pm,” stated the order.

Thackeray also informed that so far as many as 3,000 cases of black fungus (mucormycosis) have been reported in the state.

Maharashtra reported 18,600 new cases of COVID-19, 402 deaths, and 22,532 discharges in the last 24 hours. The active cases in the state are 2,71,801.

The total number of cases in the state so far is 57,31,815 while the death toll is at 94,844. The total number of recovered cases is 53,62,370 in the state.

Health worker collect swab sample testing for Covid-19 at CP in new Delhi on Monday March 22, 2021.(Photo:Wasim Sarvar/IANS)

Meanwhile, India logged less than 2 lakh Covid-19 cases third day in a row, with 1,52,734 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, when 3,128 more succumbed to the pandemic, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Monday.

This is the lowest new infection reported since April 9, when India recorded 1,45,384 cases while on April 10, India witnessed 1,52,879 fresh cases.

Most Metro cities are still fighting huge waves, though Mumbai and Delhi have arrested the surge. Delhi on Sunday reported 946 cases, Mumbai 1,066, Bengaluru was the worst affected with 4,734 cases, followed by Chennai 2,689 and Kolkata 1,830 cases.

While lockdown measures are set to ease in the national capital, West Bengal has extended strict measures for 15 more days, as Tamil Nadu is micro-managing at every level to break the chain.

For the first time in 47 days Delhi on Saturday reported less than 100 cases. Andhra Pradesh on Sunday breached the 15-lakh mark in recoveries.

On May 28, the country recorded 1,86,364 cases, next day it was 1,73,790 and on May 30 it was 1,65,553.

Fatalities have also remained below 4,000 for four consecutive days.

India’s overall tally of Covid-19 cases now stands at 2,80,47,534 with 20,26,092 active cases and 3,29,100 deaths so far.

According to the Health Ministry, a total of 2,38,022 people have been discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the total discharge to 2,56,92,342 from Covid till date.

The Health Ministry said that a total of 21,31,54,129 people have been vaccinated so far in the country, including 10,18,076 who were administered vaccines in the last 24 hours. (ANI/IANS)

ALSO READ: French Cos promise support in India’s Covid fight

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India News Maharashtra

Apex Court quashes Maratha reservation law

A five-judge Constitution bench, by a unanimous view, also ruled out any need to reconsider the 1992 nine-judge bench judgement in Indra Sawhney (Mandal Commission) case…reports Asian Lite News

In a major decision, the Supreme Court on Wednesday termed the 2018 Maharashtra law, providing reservations to Marathas in jobs and education, as unconstitutional, and struck it down for violating the 50 per cent cap on quota and the fundamental right to equality.

A five-judge Constitution bench, by a unanimous view, also ruled out any need to reconsider the 1992 nine-judge bench judgement in Indra Sawhney (Mandal Commission) case, which fixed 50 per cent ceiling on reservation. “We have found that no extraordinary circumstances were made out in granting separate reservation of Maratha community by exceeding the 50 per cent ceiling limit of reservation,” the top court noted.

The 569-page verdict may likely have far-reaching consequences on pending challenges to the validity of the Centre’s 10 percent Economic Weaker Section quota, and Tamil Nadu’s law for up to 69 percent reservation for the OBC. Against the backdrop of this verdict, the governments would have to prove exceptional circumstances to support their move.

The top court said the 2018 Maharashtra Act violates the principle of equality as enshrined in Article 16. The exceeding of ceiling limit without there being any extra-ordinary circumstances clearly violates Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution which makes the enactment ultra vires, it added.

Several states had demanded review for the nine-judge bench decision in view of subsequent developments and change in social dynamics.

But the court stayed unmoved.

Justice Ashok Bhushan writing on behalf of himself, and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer said: “There can be no quarrel that society changes, law changes, and people change but that does not mean that something which is good and proven to be beneficial in maintaining equality in the society should also be changed in the name of change alone.”

The Constitution bench, presided over by Justice Bhushan, observed that the pre-condition for breaching 50 per cent limit on quota under Article 16(4) like extra-ordinary and exceptional circumstances was not fulfilled in granting 12 percent and 13 percent reservation to Marathas in jobs and education, respectively.

“The representation of Marathas in public services in Grade A, B, C and D comes to 33.23 per cent, 29.03 per cent, 37.06 per cent and 36.53 per cent, computed from out of the open category filled posts, is adequate and satisfactory representation of Maratha community,” it noted.

“One community bagging such number of posts in public services is a matter of pride for the community and its representation in no manner can be said to not adequate in public services,” the top court said, also pointing out that Gaikwad Commission’s data showed that Marathas are not a socially and educationally backward class.

The other judges on the bench — Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta and S. Ravindra Bhat agreed that Maratha quota was unconstitutional, and no review of 50 per cent cap is required.

The five-judge Constitution bench upheld validity of the 102nd Amendment which granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.

However, Justices Bhushan and Nazeer’s point of view of was not agreed by other three judges who held the state was empowered to identify the backward class for granting quota.

Justice Rao said there is no obscurity in Article 342 A (1), instead it very clear that there should be one list of socially and educationally backward classes which may be issued by the President.

Also read:Trinamool wins back confidence in Junglemahal

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India News Karnataka Maharashtra

Around 3K Covid patients go ‘missing’ in Bengaluru

He added that the state had to rope in police as they have required expertise to track switched off mobile phones…reports Asian Lite News.

Grappling with an unprecedented spike in Covid cases, Karnataka is facing another challenge, of tracking and tracing of anywhere between 2,000 to 3,000 Covid positive patients who have “gone missing”, state Revenue Minister, R. Ashoka revealed on Wednesday.

After his meeting with various department heads here, Ashoka, who is also Vice Chairman of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, told reporters that he has already directed the state police to track and trace these missing Covid patients.

“At least 2,000 to 3,000 people in Bengaluru have gone of our radar by switching off their phones and left their houses. We don’t know where they have gone,” he admitted.

Bengaluru has become epicenter of the viral spread ever since the pandemic broke out, often contributing a minimum of 50 percent to the state’s overall tally of Covid patients, fatalities, and nearly two-thirds of patients in ICUs.

“With most of these patients switching off their mobile phones, the Health Department is not able to trace them and most of them are also not available at their given addresses, it is construed as they have ‘missing’. Certainly, there is a potential threat for these missing patients. These patients can turn out to be super-spreaders,” Ashoka warned.

He added that the state had to rope in police as they have required expertise to track switched off mobile phones.

The minister added that the state government was giving free medicines to people, which can control 90 per cent of cases, but these Covid-19 infected people have switched off their mobile phones.

“Some them reach hospitals at a critical stage and desperately look for Intensive Care Unit beds. This is what is contributing more to the already existing confusion,” he said.

(Photo Credits: Bangla Sahib Gurudwara Management

Ashoka appealed to those who have tested positive for the viral disease to keep their cell phones on so that the official responsible for contact tracing and follow-ups could reach them.

“I pray to them with folded hands that Covid-19 cases will only increase due to this. It is wrong when you try for ICU beds at the last moment,” the minister said.

The Karnataka government had recently increased its contact tracing activity after it was found that the officials in Bengaluru and other districts were tracing only four contacts per infected person, while the guidelines mandate tracing at least 20 contacts.

Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan inspecting the addition of 500 Oxygenated Beds at the Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre & Hospital, in Chhatar (PIB)

Health Minister K. Sudhakar said Bengaluru had been the victim of this problem ever since the pandemic broke out.

“In my more than one year’s experience of handling this pandemic, it is observed at least 20 percent of the patients do not respond to our phone calls. Though in most of the cases, police track them down in their own way there are some of them who migrate to other states and take this disease with theme there too,” he told reporters at a separate press conference.

Also Read-Highly infectious Covid-19 strain detected in Sri Lanka

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BMC chief confirms Mumbai has enough oxygen now

Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has decided to vaccinate all the people in the state aged 18-45 free of cost, a minister said on Sunday.

Spelling breathing relief, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation on Sunday announced that it has sufficient stocks of oxygen to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 requirements in the country’s commercial capital – the worst-hit in the country in terms of deaths.

“All issues relative oxygn supplies under the BMC stands resolved now. Supply situation is normal,” BMC Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal said, but did not give details.

This comes a day after the BMC said it would set up 16 oxygen plants in 12 Mumbai hospitals which would produce around 43 tonnes of the life-saving air per day from the atmospheric air.

In another related development, a Western Railway train with 3 oxygen tankers left Hapa in Gujarat for Kalamboli in Maharashtra carrying around 44 tonnes of liquid medial oxygen (LMO).

So far, the WR has carried 10 tankers with 150 tonnes of LMO by trains to Maharashtra from different parts of India, said its chief spokesperson Sumit Thakur.

Last week, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had appealed to top industrialists in Maharashtra to set up oxygen plants in their factories and other premises and give the entire production to the state government to tackle the oxygen crisis.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has decided to vaccinate all the people in the state aged 18-45 free of cost, a minister said on Sunday.

The state will bear the cost of inoculation of all its people between the age group of 18-45, from the next phase which will start on May 1.

vaccine jabs

The ongoing vaccination drive and the plans ahead for the second phase were discussed at the weekly Cabinet meeting last week, said Nationalist Congress Party national spokesperson and Minorities Affairs Minister Nawab Malik.

Later, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced that the would float global tenders and vaccines would be purchased for the people of the state.

“Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would make an announcement in this regard soon,” he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray

Informing the media on Sunday, Malik said that in the time of crisis the government would go out and help its people.

“As per the Deputy CM’s announcement, we will float tenders and get the best vaccine at the most competitive rates. We need to procure nearly 14 crore vaccine doses as two jabs are needed,” he said.

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M’rashtra reports record high Covid deaths

Maha rashtra Covid cases surge

Crossing the previous high of 773 deaths (April 23), the latest fatalities took the state toll to 64,760 now, the worst in the country….reports Asian Lite News

Maharashtra’s Covid-19 deaths rose to a staggering new high of 832 with the state tally zooming past the 64,000 mark, while there was also an increase in the number of active cases, health officials said on Sunday.

Surpassing the previous high of 773 deaths (April 23), the latest fatalities took the state toll to 64,760 now, the worst in the country.

Dipping a little from the record high of 68,631 (April 18), the state recorded 66,191 new infections, a marginal drop against Saturday’s 67,160, taking its tally to 42,95,027.

The Mumbai situation continued to improve with a further drop in new infections from 5,867 on Saturday to 5,498, taking the tally to 672,644.

A view of LNJP Hospital after lockdown in National Capital in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases, in New Delhi On Friday, 23 April, 2021.(Photo:Qamar Sibtain/IANS)

Mumbai’s daily deaths also came down from 71 on Saturday to 64 now, and the total fatalities in the country’s commercial capital went up to 12,790.

The state death rate remained stable at 1.51 per cent, and the number of active cases again shot up to 698,354.

Also read:US anti-Covid supplies to reach India soon

On the brighter side, 61,450 fully cured patients returned home, taking the total recoveries to 35,30,060, and the recovery rate improved from 82.02 per cent on Saturday to 82.19 per cent now.

The Mumbai Circle – comprising Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts – recorded 14,296 cases, taking up the tally to 13,15,899, while with 144 more deaths, the toll shot up to 22,625.

Oxygen cylinders are stored at Kolkata Medical College Hospital during the increasing numbers of COVID 19 patients in Kolkata on April 23, 2021.(Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)

Of the day’s fatalities, Nagpur and Pune led with 69 each, while there were 64 in Mumbai, 62 in Solapur, 59 in Nanded, 57 in Nashik, 45 each in Thane, Aurangabad, and Yavatmal, 44 in Ahmednagar, 34 in Raigad, 26 in Chandrapur, 22 in Latur, 20 in Osmanabad, 18 in Amravati, 17 in Jalna, 16 in Ratnagiri, 15 in Jalgaon, 14 in Sangli, 10 each in Satara, Sindhudurg and Gondia, nine each in Akola and Bhandara, eight in Hingoli, seven each in Beed and Wardha, five each in Parbhani and Gadchiroli, four each in Nandurbar and Washim, two in Kolhapur and one in Palghar, while 2 districts recorded zero fatalities.

Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home isolation increased to 42,36,825 now, while those shunted to institutional quarantine also went up to 29,966.

Also read:13 die in Maharashtra Covid hospital fire

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Liquid oxygen use banned for non-medical purposes

Further, all stocks of liquid oxygen should also be made available to the government for use for medical purposes, it said, adding that no exception is allowed…reports Asian Lite News.

To ensure that there is no lack of oxygen in the Covid-19 hospitals across the country, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Sunday banned use of liquid oxygen for any non-medical purpose while directing its manufacturing units to maximise production and make it available to the government for medical purposes only.

The ministry, in an order, stated that the National Executive Committee (NEC), under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, has taken certain decisions to ensure the uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country.

“And whereas, it has been considered necessary to restrict industrial usage of oxygen for ensuring availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen across the country for the management of Covid-19 patients and necessary order in this regard was issued on 22.04.2021 to restrict the use of industrial oxygen.

“Now, therefore, in the exercise of powers conferred under section 10(2)(I) and section 65 of the DM Act, the undersigned, hereby directs the state/Union Territory governments and state/Union Territory Authorities to ensure that use of liquid oxygen is not allowed for any non-medical purpose and that all manufacturing units may maximize their production of liquid oxygen, and make it available to the government for use for medical purposes only, with immediate effect and until further orders,” the order stated.

Further, all stocks of liquid oxygen should also be made available to the government for use for medical purposes, it said, adding that no exception is allowed.

Relatives of COVID-19 patients wait to refill cylinders with medical oxygen, in New Delhi  on Sunday, April 25, 2021 (Pallav Paliwal)

On April 22, the MHA prohibited supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except those exempted by the government.

The ministry had also issued a directive to states and Union Territories asking them to make sure there are no restrictions in the supply of medical oxygen.

It said that the availability of adequate and uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen is an important prerequisite for managing moderate and severe cases of Covid-19 and with the increasing cases, the medical oxygen supply will need to keep pace with the requirements of the states and Union Territories.

Empowered Group-II (EG-II) was set up with the mandate for coordinating medical logistics, including medical oxygen, and has reviewed the supply of oxygen for industrial use in order to divert the same to meet the rising demand for medical oxygen in the country and save precious lives.

Accordingly, EG-II had recommended prohibiting the supply of oxygen for industrial purposes by manufacturers and suppliers forthwith from April 22, till further orders, with the exception of nine specified industries.

The recommendations were accepted by the Central government and the said decision, along with the list of nine exempted industries, have been conveyed by Secretary, Health and Family Welfare on April 18, 2021.

The ministry in the order stated that all District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, and Deputy Commissioners of Police of districts concerned will be personally liable for implementing the directions and ensuring there is no hindrance in oxygen supply.
“No restriction shall be imposed on the movement of medical oxygen between the states and transport authorities shall be instructed to accordingly allow free inter-state movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles,” the MHA directive stated.

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CBI charges corruption case against Deshmukh

The CBI said that Deshmukh and some unknown others had attempted to take undue advantage for “improper and dishonest performance of their public duty”….reports Asian Lite News

In a shocking development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Saturday that its preliminary enquiry (PE) has found that a prima facie ‘cognisable offence’ is made out against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and others pertaining to alleged corruption and misuse of power.

The CBI said that Deshmukh and some unknown others had attempted to take undue advantage for “improper and dishonest performance of their public duty”.

The PE was ordered by the Bombay High Court earlier this month.

The PE also found that arrested-suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze, who was reinstated into the Mumbai Police after being out of service for more than 15 years, “was entrusted with most of the sensational and important cases of the city police” and Deshmukh was in the know of this.

In the FIR lodged by the CBI based on the PE, it has referred to the writ petition filed by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, which mentioned how “the then Home Minister (Deshmukh) and others exercised undue influence over the transfer and postings of officials and thereby exercising undue influence over the performance of official duties by the officials”.

In view of this, CBI DSP R.S. Gunjiyal recommended that a case under the amended Prevention of Corruption Act, Section 7, and the Indian Penal Code, Section 120B, should be registered against Deshmukh and the other unknown accused.

CBI DSP Mukesh Kumar has been entrusted with the task of investigating the matter further, according to the FIR.

Also read:13 die in Maharashtra Covid hospital fire

 Pursuant to the FIR, the CBI sleuths on Saturday morning swooped on Deshmukh’s Nagpur home and other premises in multiple cities across Maharashtra and again questioned him for over eight hours in connection with case.

The CBI officers sporting PPE suits went to Deshmukh’s home and other locations in Mumbai, Thane and Pune, stunning the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), an ally of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine in Maharashtra.

NCP leader Deshmukh had been interrogated earlier by the CBI in Mumbai for eight hours on April 14.

The CBI action was part of the primary probe into the corruption allegations levelled against Deshmukh by Param Bir Singh last month, sparking a massive political upheaval.

Anil Deshmukh(Twitter)

Following the fast-paced developments, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil was closeted in a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, details of which are awaited.

NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik, state minister Hasan Mushrif, and Congress spokesperson Raju Waghmare termed the action as “politically motivated” and “misuse of central agencies” to target and malign the state government’s image.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit chief Chandrakant Patil and other leaders welcomed the CBI action and even demanded a probe against other MVA leaders such as Transport Minister Anil Parab and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

The developments came after the Bombay High Court ordered the CBI to conduct a PE on April 5 into Singh’s accusations of corruption and misuse of office against Deshmukh and submit its report within 15 days.

Shortly after the court-ordered CBI preliminary probe, Deshmukh quit his post and senior NCP leader Walse-Patil was appointed in his place.

Also read:CBI to probe ISRO espionage case

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13 die in Maharashtra Covid hospital fire

The fire was brought under control and extinguished after two hours, around 5.50 am…reports Asian Lite News

At least 13 patients including 6 women, perished in a major fire that broke out in a private Covid hospital in Virar in Palghar district of Maharashtra, early on Friday, officials said.

The conflagration was noticed around 3.15 am in the ICU ward located on the second floor of the four-storeyed Vijay Vallabh hospital at Tirupati Nagar in Virar town.

Fire-fighting teams and other agencies from the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation rushed to the spot and battled the blaze, the tentative cause of which is suspected to be a short-circuit.

The fire was brought under control and extinguished after two hours, around 5.50 am.

While 13 in the burning ICU perished, around 4 others there were shifted and rushed to safety before the flames spread further.

Taking serious note, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered a probe into the tragedy and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of all decreased, besides Rs 100,000 to all the seriously injured.

Agriculture Minister and Palghar Guardian Minister Dada Bhuse, two local legislators Hitendra Thakur and his son Kshitij Thakur, top police and civic officials also rushed to the site to review the rescue operations.

This is the second major Covid season tragedy coming two days after an oxygen gas leak in a Nashik Municipal Corporation hospital on Wednesday claimed 29 lives so far.

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24 Covid patients die after oxygen leak

Central and state leaders cutting across political lines expressed their grief over the tragedy that occurred on the day of Ram Navami…reports Asian Lite News.

In a horrific incident, at least 22 Covid-19 patients on ventilator support died at a Nashik public hospital after an abrupt drop in pressure due to leakage in oxygen supplies, and two others succumbed later, officials said.

The tragedy occurred at the Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital run by the BJP-controlled Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), which is among the biggest civic bodies, and in one of the worst Covid-19 hotspots in the state.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and other senior Central and state leaders cutting across political lines expressed their grief over the tragedy that occurred on the day of Ram Navami.

Visiting the tragedy-hit hospital this evening, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that according to NMC officials and experts, there were certain technical glitches while oxygen was being transferred from a tank which caused a sudden variation in the pressure of the oxygen being administered in the Covid-19 ward, and 24 patients on ventilator beds died gasping for breath within minutes.

“However, the NMC authorities handled the crisis very efficiently and helped prevent a bigger tragedy. They managed to save a part of the oxygen, which is stored at below minus 180 degrees Celsius,” said Tope.

People were left speechless as visuals of the tragedy were posted on social media with the invisible gas stored in the tank under extremely cold minus-temperatures suddenly gushing out in snow-white, hissing clouds, with workers and others running around in panic. Some technicians were seen struggling with the controls to curb the deadly outflow.

At that time, around 150 patients were undergoing treatment on oxygen or ventilator beds but when the oxygen pressure plummeted without warning, the hospital staffers were seen running helter-skelter to save their lives by shifting them to other wards or nearby hospitals.

“It’s a very serious incident… coming due to a drop in pressure of the oxygen being administered to the patients,” Tope said of the tragedy, which happened as the state struggles to beef up its oxygen supplies.

Shaken by the sudden loss of their near and dear ones, wailing relatives slammed the NMC authorities, demanding to know who would take responsibility for the tragedy.

NMC Municipal Commissioner Kailash Jadhav termed it as “a very sad tragedy”, ordered a probe into the incident and assured action against all found guilty of lapses.

He said that owing to the leak, the oxygen supply was stopped for around half-an-hour, which culminated in the disaster that claimed 24 Covid patients.

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