Kejri: Won’t let anyone die of O2 shortage if we gets 700MT

Nearly three weeks since Covid-19 patients started dying in Delhi hospitals due to shortage of oxygen, the national capital could finally begin to breathe easy as the Centre gave the city its full requirement on the orders of the Supreme Court. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal thanked the Prime Minister saying Wednesday was the first time since the second wave of pandemic began that the city got its required supplies and asserted that no one will die due to lack of oxygen if the Centre maintains the same level of supply.

“Delhi requires 700 metric tonnes of oxygen every day. We have been requesting the Central government to help arrange the same. For the first time yesterday, Delhi received 730 MT of oxygen. On behalf of the people of Delhi, I thank you. I request you to see that Delhi gets this amount of oxygen on a daily basis and that there is no cut," Mr Kejriwal said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Addressing an online media briefing on Thursday, the chief minister urged the city’s hospitals to increase the number of Covid beds that they had to scale down due to shortage of oxygen. This way, 1,0002,000 more beds will be added, he said.

“If Delhi gets an adequate supply of 700 MT oxygen daily, it will be able to set up 9,000-9,500 beds in the city. The Delhi government will not let anyone die due to oxygen shortage in the city,” Mr Kejriwal said.

The supply of adequate amount of oxygen for the first time has come after the most harrowing nightmare in Delhi that saw several deaths due to the shortage of oxygen. Many died in hospitals, on roads, pavements, in vehicles, at homes — either while waiting for oxygen cylinders and beds, or when supplies ran out at hospitals.

Amid the daily deaths, repeated SOS messages from individuals and hospitals, the courts lashed out at both the Centre and the Delhi government while ordering adequate supply of oxygen to save lives of Covid-19 patients.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court said on Thursday that it will not allow the top court of the country to be a ground of recrimination between the Centre and the Delhi government as both indulged in a blame game on the issue of allocation and supply of oxygen to the national capital.

During the media briefing on Thursday, Mr Kejriwal said, “As the chief minister of Delhi, I would like to thank the Central government on behalf of the people of Delhi. I would also thank the Supreme Court and Delhi high court. It was because of their efforts that we were able to get 730 MT oxygen.”

On Thursday, Delhi recorded 335 Covid-19 deaths in a day and 19,133 new cases even as the positivity rate dropped below 25 per cent for the first time since April 18.—