Battle Over Oxygen As People Steal Cylinders In MP: All You Need To Know About The Crisis

The acute shortage of medical oxygen has become a pressing issue in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Gujarat and several states battling the second wave of Covid as it sweeps through the country, leaving the healthcare system in many states swamped.

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Oxygen heist in MP

On Wednesday, a group of persons allegedly looted oxygen cylinders when a truck went to deliver them to a hospital in Madhya Pradesh. The miscreants have not been identified yet. They allegedly looted the cylinders as soon as they arrived for delivery.

Damoh district collector Tarun Rathi told news agency ANI, "We have been told that as soon as the oxygen truck entered the hospital some people (started) looting cylinders despite the hospital having an adequate supply of oxygen. "

MP: Oxygen cylinders looted by some people at Damoh District Hospital last night. District Collector says, "We've been told that as soon as Oxygen truck came, people looted cylinders even when the hospital has adequate Oxygen supply. We're identifying these people & filing cases" pic.twitter.com/K0D2wh6UwC

¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2021

Reportedly, the accused were relatives of COVID-19 patients admitted to the government hospital. In a video of the incident, the accused could be seen going berserk as they saw a truck arrive with the medical oxygen cylinders.

Similar incident took place earlier in the week

On Monday as well, a similar incident took place at another hospital. Damoh district hospital civil surgeon Dr Mamta Timoti said, "After Monday¡¯s incident, police and the district administration was informed. On Tuesday, it was repeated again. The police were again informed, but under such circumstances, it is becoming increasingly difficult for doctors and paramedic staff to perform their duties."

Indian Railways oxygen express

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contacted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat to ensure that the oxygen supply of his state was uninterrupted. He urged the other states to take action against the persons who were blocking the supply of oxygen cylinders to Madhya Pradesh.

Haryana alleges "loot" by Delhi

Now, Haryana has joined battle, ordering police protection for its oxygen tankers, alleging "loot" by Delhi. "We are being forced to give our oxygen to Delhi. First, we'll complete our needs, then give to others. Yesterday, one of our oxygen tankers which was going to Faridabad, was looted by Delhi government. From now, I have ordered police protection for all tankers," Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said.

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This comes after officials in Uttar Pradesh have denied Delhi's accusation of blocking oxygen supplies, saying their hospitals are suffering as Delhi took more than its share of oxygen last night from key supplier INOX.

Only surplus Industrial Oxygen was exported primarily in low demand months of Dec'20 & Jan'21

With the sinking supply of medical oxygen across the country, as COVID patients struggle for breath, official data shows that Surplus Industrial Oxygen was exported primarily in low demand months of Dec'20 & Jan'21.

Moneycontrol, in a report citing official figures of the Commerce Department, said, oxygen exports in the April-January period of FY21 increased in comparison to last year and it was more than double the total 4,502 MT of exports in the previous year. This was in the form of liquid oxygen, which can be later channeled for both industrial and medical use.

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Meanwhile, the demand in the home country has skyrocketed as it battles coronavirus, which has grown exponentially, fuelling severe oxygen crises.

However, an ANI tweet, citing government sources, said the oxygen export claim is "false and malicious propaganda."

Malicious propaganda is being spread that India had exported scarce medical oxygen during the pandemic year of 2020-21. This is absolutely false and industrial oxygen exports are being mistaken as medical oxygen: Government sources

¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2021

Majority of these industrial oxygen export was in Dec & Jan when medical oxygen consumption reduced to 1418 MT/day from 2675 MT/day in Sept-this against near 7000 MT/day capacity resulted in no threat to medical oxygen supply while protecting jobs in oxygen industry: Govt sources

¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2021

India to import oxygen

Amid the spiralling of COVID-19 cases across the country, the Centre has decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) of Medical Oxygen to address the shortage in the hospitals, for which the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) via its missions abroad is being tasked to identify and explore from where oxygen can be imported.

"In view of increasing demand for medical oxygen, the Government has decided to float a tender for import of 50,000 MT of medical oxygen. MOHFW has been directed to finalise the tender for the same and also explore possible sources for import identified by the missions of MEA," the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) said in a statement.

Reuters

"Government is identifying another 100 hospitals in far-flung locations for installation of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants, which manufacture oxygen. 162 PSA plants sanctioned earlier under PM-Cares are being monitored for early completion to enhance self-generation of oxygen in hospitals," the statement said.