Boy dies after oxygen ‘runs out’ during shifting

Bokaro: A nine-year-old boy died allegedly after the oxygen cylinder supporting him ran out while he was being shifted to a higher medical centre from Central Hospital Dhori in Bermo on Tuesday.

The deceased’s father Jitendra Giri said the boy, who had a prior condition, was brought to the hospital in a critical condition where doctors referred him to Bokaro for advanced treatment after preliminary examination. Giri alleged that the cylinder used during transit got exhausted midway, and the child died before reaching the referral hospital.

Family members later staged a road blockade outside the office of the general manager of Central Coalfields Limited in Dhori seeking compensation and action against those responsible for alleged lapses.

Rohit Kumar Singh, the officer-in-charge of Bermo police station, said the body was sent to Bokaro Sadar Hospital for postmortem examination.

Hospital authorities denied the allegations. Hospital in-charge Dr S K Sinha said, “The patient was attended to promptly and referred as he was in a very critical condition. He was unconscious when brought in. There was sufficient oxygen in the cylinder. The exact cause of death will be known after postmortem examination.”