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BIG STORY APRIL 23, 2021 | The Indian Eye 8

cOvid-19: cOlOssal failure

TOO many paTienTs,

TOO liTTle Oxygen

Families run around to procure the precious gas. The government steps in but it is too

little and too late. A look at India’s oxygen crisis and an impending disaster

The Railways said it trans-
Our Bureau
ported essential commodities
New Delhi and kept the supply chain intact

ndia is gasping for air and even during the lockdown last
year and continued to serve the
there is not enough oxygen. nation in times of emergencies.
IReports of distress are com- The green corridors are helping
ing from all across the country.
In New Delhi, a possible cri- in fast movement of Oxygen Ex-
sis was averted at Holy Family press.
The story of despair is the
Hospital in the national capi- same in other states. In view
tal on Friday when an emer- of the increasing demand for
gency supply of liquid oxygen, medical oxygen amid rising
arranged by the Delhi govern-
ment reached the hospital, with COVID-19 cases, the Oxygen
only half an hour of reserve re- Management Group appointed
maining. by the Rajasthan government
added 17 more tankers and
Thanking the media and 32,000 cylinders to bridge the
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriw- gap.
al-led government, Dr Sumit Chief Minister Ashok Ge-
Ray, medical superintendent
of Holy Family Hospital said hlot has also been directly moni-
the healthcare system needs an toring the oxygen supply scenar-
improvement as logistics can- io along with the management of
the COVID-19 situation. “The
not be organised by individual government has also established
hospital, and they have to be ar- 24 hours control rooms at State
ranged by state and central forc- A staff of Sir ganga Ram Hospital shows a letter written to level as well as district levels to
es combined. DS Rana Chairman to provide oxygen cylinders amid the rise in COVID-19
In the financial capital cases, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI) ensure efficient management
Mumbai, the Bombay High of oxygen. Rajasthan has been
able to avoid scarcity of oxygen
Court has taken suo motu cog- incident,” said Nashik Mayor Oxygen Express, which departed to healthcare services helping
nisance of the Nashik Oxygen Satish Kulkarni. from Visakhapatnam yesterday, them to effectively control the
leak incident in which 24 people Maharashtra Health Min- reached Nagpur Junction rail- mortality rate and recovery pe-
lost their lives. The court has ister Rajesh Tope said that the way station with seven oxygen
asked the state government to situation is under control now. tankers on Friday. The Railways riod,” the release said.
file a reply on it. As many as 24 Maharashtra Food and Drug said in a release that the Oxygen The situation has become so
people died in the oxygen tank- Administration (FDA) Minister Express reached Nagpur at 8.10 drastic that Union Home Sec-
retary Ajay Bhalla has written
er leakage incident at Dr Zakir Rajendra Shingane said, “It is pm today. “Three tankers will to all states and UTs to provide
Hussain Hospital in Maharash- an unfortunate incident. We are be unloaded at Nagpur station adequate security to vehicles
tra’s Nashik district on Wednes- trying to get a detailed report. and the remaining will be un- transporting Oxygen and also
day. We have ordered an enquiry as loaded at Nasik Road station in
“Death toll rises to 24. There well. Anyone found responsible Maharashtra. Oxygen Express provide corridors for quick
was no negligence by the Cor- will not be spared.” is expected to reach Nasik Road transportation of Oxygen to
poration. A high-level commit- Meanwhile, the country’s station in the morning tomor- hospitals.
tee has been set up to probe the first Roll On Roll Off (RORO) row,” it said. Continued on next page... >>

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