At least 11 COVID-19 patients who were on ventilator support died while five others were in critical conditions as the transfer of an oxygen tanker was delayed at a government-run hospital in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, officials said Tuesday.

The deaths took place Monday evening in Tirupati, about 408 kilometers south of Amaravati, the main city of Andhra Pradesh.

"Last evening, the oxygen supply disrupted in SVR Ruia hospital, following which 11 COVID-19 critical patients admitted in the ICU succumbed," an official said.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, chief minister of the state, expressed profound grief over the 11 dead and ordered an inquiry into the incident to ensure the tragedy is not repeated.