Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) on Tuesday directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh to the families of each of the three patients who died for want of oxygen at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on September 25.

The commission said it appeared to be a case of gross negligence on the part of DMCH employees and directed the government to pay the compensation within two months.

Earlier, BHRC had taken suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding the deaths in the medicine department's intensive care unit (ICU), where the central oxygen pipeline was snapped for 75 minutes. Rani Devi (30), Champa Devi (68) and Shabnam Khatun (40) died in the incident.

The commission had earlier issued notices to the Darbhanga district magistrate and DMCH superintendent and had sought a detailed report on the incident from them.

BHRC member Neelmani said the Darbhanga DM had conducted an inquiry into the episode and recommended action on many points to the principal health secretary.

The DM, in his report, mentioned that the oxygen supply in the ICU remained suspended from 8am to 9.15am, which led to the deaths. He further blamed the gross negligence and non-adherence to the standard operating procedure by ICU attendants, paramedics and doctors for the deaths.

The DM recommended the institution of a criminal case and departmental action against the three ward attendants, who were suspended after the episode. He also sought suspension and departmental proceedings against the ICU sister-in- charge together apart from explanations from the two physicians on duty in the ICU at the time of the incident.

The BHRC has directed the principal health secretary to inform it within two months about action taken on the recommendations of the Darbhanga DM.

The case would again be heard on December 8.