Amid the rush in covid cases in Maharashtra, a hospital in Pune`s Pimpri has run out of beds and been forced to provide oxygen support - to patients complaining of breathlessness - in a makeshift triage, or waiting area, where they are treated while the authorities try and find room inside. Seven oxygen beds have been set up in that space. This has turned havoc amongst the patients waiting for beds in the hospital.

As of Tuesday, not a single bed is free. Ventilators - to help Covid patients unable to breathe on their own - are in short supply, with only 79 available across Pune.

"There is a constant demand from patients in PCMC (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) limits and outside. Patients who feel breathless are immediately put on oxygen support in the triage... until we can find them a bed," Dr. Kaustubh Kahane, an Assistant Professor at YCM Hospital, said.

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"When a new patient arrives, we have to take a call on admitting them - this depends on the severity of illness. If a patient needs oxygen support and no bed is available, then we ensure the patient does not suffer... We immediately ensure oxygen support," he said.

Pune district has been identified by the center as one of the worst affected by the fresh wave of coronavirus infections. On Friday Pune authorities ordered a 6 pm to 6 am curfew, and directed that shopping malls, religious places, hotels and bars, and cinema theatres shut down for a week. 

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