12 newborns gasp for breath as thieves steal oxygen pipe from Madhya Pradesh hospital

NEW DELHI: The theft of an oxygen supply pipe from Rajgarh district hospital in Madhya Pradesh disrupted the flow of oxygen to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), leaving 12 oxygen-dependent infants with breathing difficulties.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, sparked panic among hospital staff and raised concerns about safety at critical health facilities.
The stolen pipe, a copper segment measuring 10 to 15 feet, was vital to the NICU’s oxygen supply. When the flow stopped, the newborns on the unit began to cry, alerting medical staff to the emergency. The NICU’s built-in alarm system also activated.
Medical staff quickly managed to avert tragedy by connecting a giant oxygen cylinder to the system, restoring critical supply. Pediatrician Dr RS Mathur rushed to the hospital to supervise the situation after being informed by the staff.
Rajgarh Medical Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMHO) Dr Kiran Wadia confirmed that oxygen supply was quickly restored.
“Higher authorities were informed about the incident and we handled the crisis effectively through the rescue system,” Wadia said.
“Staff acted quickly and the rescue system ensured that there was no loss of life,” an official added.
At the time of the incident, 20 newborns were being cared for in the NICU, 12 of whom were dependent on oxygen.