Patna resident Gaurav Rai tested Covid positive in July 2020. After the initial days, when he started getting really sick, he ran from pillar to post to find a hospital bed where he could get oxygen. Finally he found a hospital where he was admitted, but without a bed.?
He was made to lie down next to a drain and given oxygen by the hospital staff. His condition was getting worse. So, he decided to return home and prefer to die there rather than languishing at the so-called hospital. He somehow returned home. His wife managed to find oxygen cylinders and eventually saved his life.?
That¡¯s when he said to his wife to start thinking about an oxygen bank, from where needy people can take oxygen. His wife agreed to it and together they began a new chapter in their life. Since then, Rai has been known as ¡®Oxygen Man¡¯.
Gaurav Rai works as a manager at a company that makes high security number plates for vehicles. He is now successfully running an oxygen bank with the help of his wife Aruna Bhardwaj. He says whenever he tells people that he is providing oxygen for free they think that he is joking.?
Speaking to Indiatimes, Rai says that his life was saved after he got oxygen supply for three hours. ¡°Now I want that no one should die due to lack of oxygen.¡± He says. He delivers cylinders to people wherever they want in his own car. ¡°All those who can come to my office to pick the cylinder, come here.¡±
Rai recollects that after his wife managed to get three cylinders, one of his friends living in the US sent three more cylinders to him. They began helping people with a total six cylinders and gradually they had as many as 54 cylinders to help others. Bihar Foundation gave them about 200 cylinders after which they set up networks in 21 districts in the state.
Rai spends all his time after office helping people by arranging oxygen for them. He says that he follows up with the patients wherever he sends the cylinders. Even after they get healthy. He celebrates their well being with a cake.?
He says that he has been interested in social work since childhood. He says that he first donated blood at the age of 16. Since then, he has donated blood 88 times so far.
Rai himself has suffered a paralysis attack, which resulted in partial loss in speech in 2019. He contemplated suicide, but he thought of others who are battling the odds of life. He has now recovered up to 85 per cent and can speak now.
Rai complains about the hoarders in the society, who are making the battle against Covid extremely difficult. The oxygen pipe that used to cost around 20 rupees is now being sold at Rs 200. Similarly, wrench and flow meters are being sold at 10 times the actual price. He urges authorities to take action against such people.