31 die at UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri hospital in 24 hours

BAREILLY: At least 31 people with Covid-19 like symptoms died in a span of 24 hours at a government hospital in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri district. The hospital said that all the patients were brought in a critical condition -- some barely able to speak -- and couldn’t be revived despite oxygen support.
“Most of them died within hours of admission,” said Dr RC Agarwal, chief medical superintendent (CMS) of the hospital. The CMS also said, “Strangely a few of them had negative Covid-19 report."
According to the hospital register, six patients died on Friday night between 9pm and 12am. And another 25 people passed away by Saturday evening. The register says that they all had “difficulties in breathing”.
CMS Agarwal confirmed to TOI that the number of deaths might be higher than 31. “Most of the people are coming to the hospital in the last stage. All of them had Covid-19 like symptoms. They were barely able to speak. Many of them were unconscious and couldn’t be revived despite putting them on oxygen support.”
“The infection had possibly damaged their lungs badly. Strangely many of them had negative Covid-19 report. Their cremation will be done according to protocol.”
When asked if lack of oxygen led to some of the deaths, the CMS said, “It is true that there is a deficiency of oxygen in the district. We are yet to receive uninterrupted supply from Lucknow. But most of these patients were extremely critical and ventilator was the only option for them. We tried to revive them, but couldn’t. We are not sure if those patients had multiple infections or there is some other mutant variant of virus.”
Another senior doctor told TOI that a large chunk of patients are starting treatment at the last stage, when the infection is spread and lungs are damaged.
“High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) should be done by the patient if he thinks that he has contracted the virus. It tells us the exact position of the lungs. Now patients turn up for treatment when their lungs are totally damaged and there is nothing left for us to treat,” he said.