As Delhi is staring at severe oxygen shortage with stock only for a few hours, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal requested the Union Government to increase the supply immediately.
In a tweet, Kejriwal wrote, “Serious oxygen crisis persists in Delhi. I again urge the Centre to urgently provide oxygen to Delhi. Some hospitals are left with just a few hours of oxygen.”
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said they have just eight hours of oxygen left. Its chairman DS Rana said, “6,000 cubic meters of it is left, which at the rate of current consumption will last till 1 am.”
He said around 120 patients in the ICU are heavily dependent on oxygen. “If we don’t get oxygen on time, then many will die,” he warned.
On Monday, the Delhi Government set up a 24-member committee to ensure “rational” use of oxygen for treatment of Covid-19 patients. A Health Department order said the “Oxygen Audit Committee” will identify areas of wasteful consumption.
Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia too warned that many hospitals in Delhi will face shortage of oxygen in next few hours.
“In most hospitals in Delhi, oxygen is available for the next 8 to 12 hours only. We have been demanding for one week to increase the oxygen supply quota to Delhi. If oxygen does not reach the hospitals in sufficient quantity by tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, there will be an outcry,” he tweeted. The Delhi Chief Minister claimed his administration is working on a war footing to ensure adequate oxygen supply and convened review meetings on emergency situation with senior officers to increase oxygen beds across several facilities in Delhi.