NEW DELHI, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Three infants died in a government-run hospital in India's central state Chattisgarh after a hospital employee, who was allegedly drunk, accidentally switched off the oxygen supply, officials said Monday.
The deaths were reported at Bhimrao Ambedkar hospital in Raipur, the capital of Chattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has ordered immediate investigation into the deaths and said guilty would not be spared.
"The employee responsible for supplying oxygen was drunk," Singh said. "The director is looking into it."
Reports said an employee of the hospital staff deputed to monitor oxygen supply was allegedly drunk during duty hours. He accidentally switched off the oxygen supply to the children's ward and dozed off. The oxygen supply reportedly remained affected for three hours, causing deaths.
The hospital employee has been arrested by police.
The incident comes days after 63 children died due to lack of oxygen at a medical college hospital in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The deaths triggered an outrage and pointed out the loopholes in the country's healthcare.
