Nagpur: Swift response of three firemen at Nagpur Municipal Corporation-run Ayush Hospital in Sadar area averted a Nashik hospital-like tragedy on Thursday evening. The firemen plugged the leakage in the oxygen pipeline and saved 40 patients on oxygen support at the hospital.
A senior official from the NMC’s fire department said the incident took place around 4pm. NMC’s superintending engineer Manoj Talekwar said a nasal release valve had developed snag and it interrupted the supply of oxygen to a few patients. “The oxygen supply was regulated after carrying out necessary repairs,” he said.
Following a spike in coronavirus cases in the city, the civic body had converted Ayush Hospital into a 40 oxygen bed unit and started admitting Covid-19 patients.
Hariharsinh Gaherwar, an eyewitness, told TOI he received a call from his brother Maheshsinh, who was admitted in the hospital about sudden dip in oxygen supply. Without wasting time, he rushed to the hospital and witnessed a panic among patients and their relatives due to leakage in oxygen pipeline.
Gaherwar then called fireman from NMC’s fire and emergency services department Jagdish Bais, whose relative too was admitted at the same hospital. Bais and doctors found the pipeline with one valve leaking in the hospital backyard. Bais summoned Sudhakar Gavai, a technician from the fire department, who too reached within 10 minutes.
He stopped the cylinder supply. Bais and other relatives moved at least 15 jumbo oxygen cylinders to the Covid ward situated on the first floor of the two-storey building. “We ensured not a single life was lost due to non-supply of oxygen,” he said adding the ward boys and nurses at the hospital helped connecting the oxygen cylinders to resume supply.
Though the fire department made temporary arrangements, the work to repair the damaged nozzle was on. Meanwhile, superintending engineer Manoj Talewar said the damaged parts will be replaced.
Patients’ relatives wondered why no technician was there to monitor the oxygen supply when the incident took place. They also raised the question over the quality of work.
Additional municipal commissioners Ram Joshi, Sanjay Nipane, Talewar and chief fire officer Rajendra Uchake visited the hospital.
All Safe and Sound
* 4 pm Covid-patients sensed dip in oxygen supply
* Informed relatives
* NMC’s fire department called
* Doctors, nursing staff, fireman swung into action
* Firemen with technician reached and plugged the leakage
* Oxygen cylinders shifted to Covid floor and supply resumed
* All 42 patients safe