Trauma Centre deaths: Delhi govt announces Rs 2 L compensation

Facing criticism, the government indicated punitive action based on the report of the probe panel which visited the Sushrut Trauma Centre in North Delhi where the incident had taken place yesterday.

"It was a tragic incident. The government has decided to pay an amount of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said.

Health Minister A K Walia said an FIR has already been lodged against the contractor who was tasked to run the oxygen supply system in the hospital. Police has been asked to expedite the probe. The private entity, which had set up the network, was maintaining the oxygen supply facility.

According to preliminary findings, the patients died as the contractor failed to ensure supply of oxygen when the cylinder supplying oxygen ran out.

The four deceased were among five patients who were in the ICU of the hospital. The fifth patient, 55-year-old Vikram Singh, who was stated to be stable yesterday died today and his family members claimed that he died due to negligence.

"My father died due to negligence of the hospital. His condition deteriorated following snapping of oxygen supply on on Tuesday night," Vikram's son Ombir said. (More)