Five Years After Karnataka Hospital Tragedy, Victims’ Relatives Receive Government Jobs
Tragic Incident at Chamarajanagar District Hospital
During the height of the second wave of Covid-19 in May 2021, Chamarajanagar District Hospital was the site of a significant tragedy in India. On the night of May 2, a critical shortage of liquid medical oxygen resulted in the deaths of 36 Covid-19 patients at the facility.
In the years following the tragedy, numerous petitions and demonstrations were made by the families of the victims. Consequently, the Karnataka Government announced the recruitment of individuals from 25 affected families and distributed appointment letters on Tuesday in Chamarajanagar.
Personal Accounts of the Tragedy
One of the beneficiaries, Manjunath S., described the harrowing experience encountered by the victims’ families while seeking accountability. His father, Siddaraju, was among those who lost their lives due to the oxygen crisis. Manjunath shared that his father was hospitalized for five days before passing away, and that the medical staff were reluctant to inform families about the deaths due to fear of potential backlash against the hospital.
Upon visiting the hospital with Galipura Mahesh, a former city councillor, Manjunath witnessed a shocking scene—bodies were found stacked together. He expressed concern that some bodies may have been discreetly removed by ambulance to manipulate the reported death toll.
An inquiry launched after the event confirmed that the actual count of fatalities was 36, exceeding initial claims made by government officials immediately following the incident.
Government Promises and Job Distributions
Families of the deceased had previously met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, where they were promised employment opportunities should the Congress party gain power in Karnataka. Manjunath noted they were hopeful for an announcement soon after the party’s ascent to power, particularly in light of its commitment to addressing their plight in its election manifesto.
On Tuesday, Manjunath received an appointment letter for a position as a second division assistant (SDA) at the Chamarajanagar Medical College. Additionally, those with SSLC qualifications were awarded Group D jobs, while others with higher qualifications were hired as SDAs. In total, 21 individuals, including Manjunath, received job offers based on their educational credentials.
While two of the recipients opted not to take the jobs, delays occurred for others due to technical complications, with the Karnataka Government finalizing job offers for 31 families in total.
Efforts to Advocate for the Victims
Mahesh, who played a role in organizing support for the victims’ families, highlighted the collaborative efforts made alongside his associates from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). He recalled meetings with various officials, including the Governor and Chief Minister of Karnataka, as they sought justice and employment for those affected.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officiated the job distribution ceremony in Chamarajanagar, marking a pivotal moment for the families affected by the hospital tragedy. The government’s actions follow years of advocacy and struggle by the victims’ families for acknowledgment and support in the wake of the catastrophic event.
