Mumbai: At least 22 patients who were on ventilators at a hospital in Nashik died when oxygen supply to them was disrupted by a leak in a tanker outside the hospital.Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said the incident would be probed.These patients were being treated at a hospital run by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for the COVID-19 patients. Around 150 patients were either oxygen-dependent or on ventilators at the hospital, according to reports.“22 people have lost their lives. Patients are receiving oxygen properly as of now,” said Nashik collector Suraj Mandhare on #oxygen tanker leak in #Maharashtra‘s Nashik pic.twitter.com/uk0r4T6vkp— NDTV (@ndtv) April 21, 2021At the time of Tope’s announcement, 11 deaths were confirmed, but media reports later said the toll had risen to 22. “As per the information available with us, 11 patients who were on ventilators at the hospital in Nashik have died. The leakage was spotted at the oxygen tank which was supplying oxygen to these patients. The interrupted supply could be linked to the deaths of the 11 patients in the hospital,” Tope told reporters here.He said the Maharashtra government will look into the matter and conduct a thorough probe.“We will issue a statement later after the investigation is over,” Tope added.A video of oxygen purportedly leaking from the storage plant has gone viral on social media.#WATCH | An Oxygen tanker leaked while tankers were being filled at Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital in Nashik, Maharashtra. Officials are present at the spot, operation to contain the leak is underway. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/zsxnJscmBp— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2021Some relatives of the deceased COVID-19 patients have alleged that the “lowered supply of oxygen” claimed the lives of their kin.(With PTI inputs)