According to reports, the Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) director of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) was among the seven who have been suspended after an inquiry committee found they were negligent in performing their duties.

Quoting official, local Dawn News reported that the patients died due to a shortage in oxygen supply.

"According to the preliminary report prepared by a three-member committee and submitted today, the on-duty manager of services line told the committee that on the day of the incident he received a call from the hospital's operation theatre regarding low oxygen pressure. On receiving the complaint, he called the oxygen plant's manager, who did not receive his phone, after which the former visited the plant in person and found that the two officials, who were supposed to be on duty, were absent. The oxygen plant pressure at that moment was zero, the report said," Dawn News reported.

It said that 90 patients were in the Covid-19 isolation ward, 20 of whom were on Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), two on ventilators and the rest were being supplied with oxygen through masks.

"Due to the shortage in oxygen supply, the hospital management shifted 13 patients to the Accident and Emergency Department where "limited supply in the form of manifold was available". The rest of the patients were provided oxygen through cylinders, which were in limited supply," the report said.