PM urges States to not stop oxygen tanker as IAF & Railways get on the task of supplying medical oxygen

In a high-level meeting on Friday with Chief Ministers of all 11 hardest-hit states and UTs by the second wave of Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured them of “full support” to tackle the surge. PM Modi also urged the CMs during the virtual meetings to set up a coordination committee ensuring timely delivery of medical oxygen to hospitals. 

Modi further told Chief Ministers to check on recent reports of oxygen and medicines being black marketed and hoarded. 

India’s daily positivity rate has escalated to 19.12% with last 24 hours reporting 3,32,730 new Covid-19 cases 2,263 deaths. Active caseload in India has reached 24,28,616 with five States accounting for 59.12%. These states are Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. 

During Friday meeting, Modi directed the CMs to ensure that “no oxygen tanker, whether it is meant for any state, is stopped or gets stranded”. Explaining about the coordination committee, Prime Minister said that it must “ensure that as soon as there is allotment of oxygen from the Centre, it can deliver oxygen as per requirement in different hospitals of the state immediately.” 

Modi assured that Central government is taking all steps to reduce transportation time for oxygen tanker and ensure timely delivery. He pointed out two key and significant steps in this direction: Oxygen Express trains started by the Railways; and empty oxygen tankers being transported by the Air Force in order to reduce one-way travel time for oxygen. 

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PM Modi pointed out that united efforts and strategy are needed to tackle second wave that’s hitting states as well as Tier 2 and 3 cities, along with widespread testing and steps to ensure smooth and continuous vaccination drive. “PM Modi assured Centre’s full support to all the states in this fight. He added that the Ministry of Health is also in touch with the states and is monitoring the situation closely and issuing necessary advice to the states from time to time,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

PM Modi also held a separate meeting with leading oxygen manufacturers in country. Meeting was attended by Mukesh Ambani of RIL, Soma Mandal of SAIL, Sajjan Jindal of JSW, Shri Narendran of Tata Steel and Naveen Jindal of JSPL, along with others.