INCREASED DEMAND FOR OXYGEN FORCES OFFICIALS TO PREPARE A BACKUP PLAN

KANPUR: With the significant surge in patients of Covid-19, the demand for oxygen has increased threefold in a matter of one week in Kanpur.

The food and drug authority (FDA) has ordered to half the supply of oxygen to industries and prepare a plan that helps maintain a stock of 58 tonnes of oxygen at any given time.

The oxygen demand in the city otherwise has shot up from 11 tonnes to 35 tonnes in one week, said the authorities.

Sandesh Mauryam, drug inspector in Kanpur, said the back-up plan would help in the maintaining the uninterrupted supply of oxygen to Covid hospitals. “If need arises, the oxygen supply to others would further be reduced,” he said.

At present the neuro Covid wing of LLR hospital, maternity hospital and hold areas were consuming about 6,000 litres of oxygen every day.

Similarly, 200 cylinders were being used at Kanshiram memorial trauma centre, a level 2 Covid facility.

The other private but designated Covid hospitals such as Regency, Rama Medical and Narayana medical were using up 6,000 cylinders.

In order to avert crisis, the number of small and jumbo cylinders have been doubled from 60 to 110 and 75 to 125 respectively at the LLR hospital.

Chief medical superintendent (CMS) of LLR hospital Shubranshu Shukla said there was enough stock to meet the demand.

Managing director of Murari Oxygen plant, Ajay Mishra said the supply was uninterrupted in Kanpur though the demand was increasing each passing day.