A retired brigadier of the Indian Army died of Covid-related complications while on his way to Chandigarh from Delhi on Wednesday night after being allegedly denied admission in the capital’s hospitals, including the army facility.

Family members of Brigadier (retd) Rashpal Singh Parmar said they had arranged for an oxygen cylinder for him and were taking him to Chandigarh in an ambulance when he passed away. They said the veteran had been refused a bed in Delhi’s hospitals, including the army’s Base Hospital and the DRDO’s facility.

“We have got reports that after being denied admission at Base Hospital, the family members had taken him to the DRDO hospital near Delhi airport. But he could not get a bed there too. The family later took him to several private hospitals in Delhi but to no avail. Finally, they decided to rush him to a private hospital in Chandigarh but he died on the way,” said an army officer.

The army did not comment officially on the issue.

Brig. Parmar had been commissioned on March 14, 1971, in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Delhi is the worst affected city in the country, reporting 24,638 fresh Covid-19 cases and 249 deaths on Wednesday. Hospitals are overflowing and there has been an acute shortage of oxygen, prompting relatives to make desperate appeals for help on social media. The army’s facilities are also said to be full with Covid patients among serving officers and soldiers.

The defence ministry had on Monday directed the cantonment general hospitals maintained by the cantonment boards across the country to extend all necessary medical assistance and services to all patients, even if they were not cantonment residents.

A ministry official said medical services would be provided to all cantonment residents and non-residents in the 67 Cantonments Board hospitals across the country.

“The ministry has directed that suitable liaison with district authorities and nodal officers (Covid) as required may be undertaken by the cantonment general hospitals to facilitate timely treatment to patients and immediate medical intervention,” the official said.

The army has announced that the Base Hospital at the Delhi cantonment has been converted into an exclusive Covid facility for the armed forces and veterans with effect from Thursday.