‘DC, Health Minister are giving contradictory statements about oxygen shortage’

Chamarajanagar:  Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah said that Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Dr. K. Sudhakar and Chamarajanagar District Minister S. Suresh Kumar should take moral responsibility for the disaster in Chamarajanagar and resign. 

He accused Dr. Sudhakar of lying to the people that only three persons had died due to oxygen shortage. “A total of 28 persons had died due to non-availability of oxygen in the district last Sunday and early Monday,” he said. 

Siddharamaiah, who visited Chamarajanagar District Hospital yesterday along with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar, said that the Government is trying to fool the entire nation. 350 oxygen cylinders are required each day to treat the patients in Chamarajanagar Hospital but the Hospital received only 126 cylinders last Sunday. This led to oxygen being exhausted by evening killing 28 patients, he said. 

Siddharamaiah claimed that Chamarajanagar DC and health officers have conceded that the death of 28 patients was due to shortage of oxygen only. “But the Government has its own version. What do Dr. Sudhakar and Yediyurappa say about this?” he asked. 

The DC, Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister are giving contradictory statements about oxygen shortage crisis, he added. 

“We held meetings with the District Administration officials and during our cross-examination with officials, we have learnt that all of them died due to oxygen shortage,” he said. Shivakumar accused the State Government of ‘murder’ and both Shivakumar and Siddharamaiah demanded a judicial probe.  

“I urge the Karnataka Government to initiate a judicial investigation. Only an enquiry by an independent institution will reveal the truth about the incident and ensure justice to the families of victims,” Siddharamaiah said.