COVID-19: IAF airlifts oxygen containers from Singapore amid shortage in India

As world reiterates support to India after it proved testament of cooperation by delivering vaccines across globe, Indian Air Force aircraft airlifted four cryogenic oxygen containers from Singapore’s Changi International Airport and will reach India on April 24. Singaporean mission in India said on Twitter while sharing images of IAF aircraft being loed with oxygen tanks that would help India to tackle crippling second wave of COVID-19 pandemic along with oxygen crisis.

Singapore also pledged solidarity with India and said “we stand with India” to tackle global health crisis.  Indian Air Force said in a statement that its C-17 aircraft got airborne at 2 AM on April 24 from Hindan Air Base for Changi International Airport, Singapore after it arrived in Singapore at 7:45 AM.

Meanwhile, similar efforts have been me by IAF to meet dire need for Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) across nation by airlifting tanks. Indian Air Force on April 24 also said, “Air lift of empty cryogenic oxygen containers from different parts of country is underway. After task completion from Begumpet to Bhubaneswar & Indore to Jamnagar, C-17 ac are air transporting containers from Pune, Indore & Jodhpur to Jamnagar.”

At present, total cases in India have mounted to 1.66 crores with active cases being 25.52 lakh. To date, India has recorded at least 1.89 lakh with 1.38 crore recoveries. Meanwhile, total number of people who have received first dose of COVID-19 vaccine is 13.83 crores. On Saturday, Delhi High Court also asked Centre about preparedness to deal with expected COVID-19 second wave peak amid oxygen crisis and shortage of drugs and hospital beds in several states. Delhi HC bench termed massive rise of COVID-19 cases as a ‘tsunami’.

Indian Railways Steps Up Efforts Amid Crisis

Not just Indian Air Force, Suneet Sharma, Chairman and CEO of Railway Board on April 23 relayed steps taken by Railway Ministry in fast-forwarding process of transporting Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) to various states amid COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, he said that “first and foremost” thing that Railways is doing its transporting oxygen along with managing travellers and or goods that are required in se challenging times. 

Furr elaborating on issues with oxygen transportation in country, Sharma said most of plants where oxygen is produced are on east but y h to stand up to Maharashtra’s demand to explore feasibility of transporting LMO through railways on April 15.

Image credits: @SGinIndia/Twitter