Palakkad: Private hospitals in Palakkad district are experiencing severe shortage of medical oxygen. The Paalana hospital authorities said they have oxygen stock for only 4 hours. Currently, there are about 60 patients in the hospital.

The doctors at the hospital said that the condition of the patients will worsen if the oxygen supply is disrupted. The authorities requested the collector or DMO to intervene immediately to ensure oxygen supply.

The oxygen stock in PK Das hospital in Ottapalam was used up by Friday night itself. The hospital authorities could refill oxygen only after many hours. The hospital authorities alleged that though oxygen is available in the district, the negligence of the district authorities resulted in the shortage.

The oxygen required for Kerala and other South Indian states are brought from the Kanjikkode plant in Palakkad. The other oxygen centres in the district informed the hospital authorities that they cannot distribute oxygen without the collector’s order.