The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the major issue of oxygen shortage in the country. While hospitals are pretty badly hit by the low oxygen supply, the DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation) has initiated efforts on similar lines, to make up for the lack. The body has sent out 1000 oxygen cylinders to Uttar Pradesh and out of the lot, 150 these tanks have reached hospitals across Lucknow already. Authorities stated that additional 850 units will reach the state’s capital and other areas of Uttar Pradesh, by this evening. In total, the DRDO aims to supply a total of almost 5,000 litres of oxygen.
DRDO to the rescue once again
Only a few days back, it was announced that the DRDO is setting up ad hoc COVID-19 hospitals in Lucknow, at Haj House, Golden Blossoms Resort and Awadh Shilpgram. These hospitals will have 250-300 beds each and will also make use of technology that replenishes the supply of oxygen. Now, the DRDO will also help out other already established hospitals here in the city, which are handling many COVID patients in a single day.
750 tons of oxygen received from the Centre
Incidentally, the DRDO is not the only one helping the oxygen situation. According to reports, the UP government has received 750 tons of oxygen from the Centre, which will go a long way in helping out COVID patients. To further ease out oxygen supply in Uttar Pradesh, 13 oxygen plants are being set up in the state- 5 by the DRDO in Ram Manohar Lohia Institute and Cancer Institute in Lucknow and others by the medical colleges across Kanpur, Agra and Jhansi.
