L-G again rejects Delhi Govt's panel to probe deaths due to oxygen shortage
Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Aug, 2021 01:17 PM
New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal has again rejected the Delhi Government's request to set up a panel to investigate the deaths due to alleged oxygen shortage during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday.
Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister for Covid management in the national capital, stated that no one can deny that Delhi grappled with an oxygen shortage during the peak of the second wave of the Covid pandemic (April-May) and several people died due to oxygen shortage.
"The Central Government has again rejected the proposal to form a committee to investigate the deaths due to lack of oxygen," Sisodia tweeted.
He added, "On the one hand, they (Centre) pretend to ask the states for the figures of deaths due to O2 deficiency, on the other hand, they stop the inquiry committee. After all, what does the Central government wants to hide."
The Delhi Government had again sent a file to the L-G office seeking it's approval to form a committee to investigate deaths due to an oxygen crisis in the national capital.
The Delhi Government had formed a four-member panel in June this year to look into the deaths due to shortage of oxygen. However, the committee was rejected by the L-G.
Doctors suspect that the sudden surge in mucormycosis, or “black fungus” infection, may be linked to the use of steroids to treat COVID-19. It can result in breathing problems and coughing blood.
India broke its own previous record of Covid deaths in 24 hours after the the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday said the nation recorded 4,529 deaths -- the highest number of fatalities from Covid infection.
Cyclone Tauktae has claimed the lives of at least 12 people and close to 200,000 have been evacuated. The impact of the cyclone so intense that it has uprooted trees and electricity poles.
According to Swaminathan, B.1.617 variant of Covid-19, which was first detected in India last Fall, was a contributing factor in the COVID explosion that India is witnessing right now.
He said that the "endgame" in fighting the pandemic is vaccinating everyone. At the same time, he said that all of India should "shut down", as some states have done.
