HHRC seeks report on deaths due to O2 crunch

Hisar, April 27

Taking suo motu cognisance of death of Covid patients due to shortage of oxygen in Hisar, Rewari and Gurugram districts, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has served a notice on the Director General, Health Services, and the civil and police administration of the three districts to submit a report within two weeks.

The HHRC, comprising its chairperson Justice SK Mittal (retd), and members Justice KC Puri (retd) and Deep Bhatia, noted that five persons died in Hisar, and four each in Rewari and Gurugram in private hospitals allegedly due to the shortage of oxygen.

“Prima facie, …it appears that the deaths of the patients suffering from Covid are taking place due to shortage of medical oxygen supply. If there is no shortage…, how the deaths are taking place in various districts, including Hisar, Gurugram and Rewari? If the patients are dying due to shortage of oxygen, …it’s a serious violation of the human rights of the public and the commission cannot shut its eyes over the matter as a silent spectator,” the HHRC wrote in a letter to the authorities concerned today.

The next date in the matter is May 17. — TNS