Jalandhar, July 28: Three patients admitted to the ICU at Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Civil Hospital died on Sunday night after a brief disruption in oxygen supply, prompting Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh to launch a high-level investigation and visit the facility at midnight.
The deceased include a 15-year-old snakebite victim, a 21-year-old drug overdose patient, and a 35-year-old tuberculosis patient. According to officials, the patients were already in critical condition when the supply glitch occurred.
The oxygen disruption, reportedly caused by a technical failure in the hospital’s plant, triggered a swift response from the administration. “There was a momentary drop in oxygen pressure due to a technical snag, but the backup system was activated immediately,” said Dr Balbir Singh while addressing reporters. “An operator switched to an alternate compressor within minutes. Still, to ensure full transparency, a detailed inquiry has been ordered.”
Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, the health minister arrived at the hospital just before 1 a.m., following initial reports of the incident. On Monday, the hospital saw a stream of senior officials, including Dr Anil Goyal, Director of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, who remained on site throughout the day assessing operations.
The state has directed senior health officials to complete their inquiry and submit findings within 48 hours. “We are committed to full accountability. If any lapse or negligence is confirmed, strict action will follow,” the minister added, affirming that the government would take steps to prevent similar incidents.
Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat also visited the hospital’s trauma centre to take stock of the situation.
Opposition leaders, however, were quick to seize the moment, accusing the government of failure. MLAs Pargat Singh and Bawa Henry, along with BSP state president Avtar Singh Karimpuri, visited the hospital and called the incident an inexcusable lapse. “This is not just a technical fault. It’s a reflection of systemic negligence,” said Pargat Singh.
On Sunday night, BJP leaders including Sushi Rinku and Sheetal Angural had also visited the hospital, demanding answers from the health authorities and raising concerns over emergency preparedness.
Responding to criticism over staff strength, the Health Minister claimed that manpower was not an issue. “There were 46 interns, 14 house surgeons and DNB students on duty. Patient care is being managed properly,” he said.
Nonetheless, opposition parties continue to challenge the administration’s version and demand greater transparency in the investigation.
As grieving families await answers, the hospital remains under scrutiny, with both medical accountability and political pressure mounting.
