The Karnataka government on Wednesday appointed retired High Court judge Justice B A Patil as the one-man commission to inquire into the death of 24 patients in Chamarajanagar district allegedly owing to oxygen shortage. A notification regarding the appointment of Justice Patil was issued by the Additional Chief Secretary in the Home Department, Rajneesh Goel on Wednesday.

The incident took place at a district hospital in Chamarajanagar where at least 144 patients are being treated. The district officials have, however, denied the allegations that all the patients died due to oxygen shortage at the hospital.