New Delhi : Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday said that Indian Air Force (IAF)’s transport planes have been pressed into service to transport empty oxygen containers from multiple locations to various manufacturing plants in the country including Singapore.
According to the IAF officials, on Saturday, one C-17 globemaster got airborne at 0200 hrs this morning from Hindan Air Base for Changi International Airport, Singapore. The aircraft arrived Singapore at 0745 hrs and loaded four empty containers of cryogenic oxygen tanks.
These empty tankers are likely to land at Panagarh air base and offload these containers by this evening.
The officials also informed that one more C-17 transport aircraft was airborne from Hindan air base at 0800 hrs today for Jodhpur and has been carrying two empty container trucks for Liquid Oxygen for Jamnagar Air Base.
The MHA also informed Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under Defence Ministry, has decided to import oxygen generation plants and containers from Germany, due to shortage across hospitals and there units will arrived here by next week.
“Twenty-three mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany that will be deployed in AFMS hospitals for Covid patients,” a Defence Ministry statement said on Friday.
The Indian Air Force on Friday carried out sorties to and from various parts of the country, airlifting empty oxygen containers, cylinders, essential medicines, and equipment required for setting up and maintaining covid-19 hospitals and facilities in the fight against a sharp spike in infections.
The MHA as a nodal Ministry, has been coordinating with various Ministries when the most of the hospitals and is grappling with the acute shortage of oxygen and also instructed all States and Union Territories to ensure uninterrupted supply under Disaster Management Act 2005, making District Magistrates and Deputy Commissioner of Police/ Superintendent of Police directly liable for the any lapses.
More Stories
Modi will come with hope in 2024: PM
IPL: For Bumrah every ball wicket-taking delivery
J&K to get statehood, assembly elections not far: PM