States join Centre in saying no one died due to oxygen shortage: Who said what
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the center’s stand on zero deaths due to oxygen shortage during the second wave of COVID-19. He said that the central government does not create data, only receives the data sent by States and union territories.
“No state and union territories sent any data related to deaths especially due to lack of oxygen.” Sambit Patra further added.
Union Health Ministry told Rajya Sabha that no deaths due to lack of oxygen have been recorded by states and UTs during the second wave of Covid-19, after this statement health ministers of various states have delivered opinions supporting the Centre. Including health ministers of opposition-ruled states.
Though the government admitted that there was an enormous surge in request for medical oxygen during the second wave of COVID-19 and it peaked at approximately 9,000 MT as compared to almost 3,095 MT in the first wave.
MAHARASHTRA
Opposition-ruled Maharashtra also repeated the Centre’s opinion on deaths provoked due to a shortage of oxygen during the second wave of COVID-19.
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, “. We had allotted an affidavit asserting this in the courts. We used all oxygen that was being manufactured in the state and effectively used it and governed the supply.”
BIHAR
Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey said not even a single person died due to the oxygen shortage in Bihar. “A total of 9,632 people have died of Covid-19 in Bihar to date but none of them died due to depletion of medical oxygen.”
The minister further added that during the second wave of COVID-19, Bihar’s pressure for medical oxygen saw a 14-fold boost. “However, this did not lead to any death,” he said.
Pointing out on Pandey, former Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav said the minister is “lying”.
“Many people have died due to lack of medical oxygen in Bihar in the prior few months. Despite this, the health minister is telling an untruth and making an effort to fool the people,” he said.
MADHYA PRADESH
Speaking on the circumstance, Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Prabhuram Choudhary said that the Centre’s response in the Rajya Sabha was on the basis of data given by states and UTs. “It is accurate that no one died due to shortage of medical oxygen in Madhya Pradesh.”
He added, “There were circumstances when there was a shortage of medical oxygen in hospitals but our government took immediate action to ensure proper supply.”
GUJARAT
Responding to the controversy, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani confessed that zero death recorded due to a lack of medical oxygen in the state during the second wave.
“No Covid-19 patient died due to shortage of oxygen in Gujarat. Approximately 8.5 lakh Covid-19 patients have been treated in Gujarat to date. We have various devoted Covid-19 hospitals because of which lakhs of people have recovered from COVID-19 and been discharged.,” Vijay Rupani said.
