India, July 28 -- Fluctuation in oxygen pressure in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the civil hospital in Jalandhar led to the death of three patients on Sunday night, government authorities said after state health minister Dr Balbir Singh's visit early on Monday.

The hospital authorities admitted that there was a dip in oxygen supply and the backup cylinders were made functional "within no time". However, three patients in the ICU of the hospital's trauma centre died after the supply was disrupted from the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plant when it developed a snag. The plant produces medical-grade oxygen on the hospital premises.

The health minister, who visited the hospital in the wee hours along with Jalandhar deputy commissione...