The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun airlifting oxygen containers from Singapore amid the acute oxygen shortage in India due to the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
The first set of four containers will land in Panagarh later today evening. After getting refilled, they will be transported to different parts of the country.
"One C-17 of Indian Air Force got airborne at 2 am on April 24 from Hindan Air Base for Changi International Airport, Singapore. The aircraft arrived in Singapore at 7:45 am," the Indian Air Force said.
Union defence minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the defence ministry's effort to deal with the present pandemic situation in the country.
"Acting swiftly to meet the high demand of oxygen requirement, India procured 4 containers of cryogenic O2 tanks from Singapore today. There was active coordination btw @IndiainSingapor and multiple agencies in Singapore to facilitate transfer," the Indian High Commission in Singapore tweeted.
Apart from Singapore, the Centre is also looking at lifting oxygen tankers from the UAE. Mobile oxygen generation plants are also being airlifted from Germany which will be used in Covid-19 hospitals being run by the Defence Ministry and in other military hospitals.
“23 mobile oxygen generation plants are being airlifted from Germany. Armed Forces Medical Service has decided to import oxygen generation plants and containers from Germany to cater to the shortage,” a press statement from the Ministry of Defence said.