COVID-19: Amid rising cases oxygen demand quadruples in Maha

The demand for oxygen for corona patients in Maharashtra has suddenly quadrupled. If cases continue to rise and the oxygen supply situation worsens, the situation could get out of hand, senior officials have expressed concern. The state government's order to give oxygen to patients as a priority is having a different effect on the industry.

The state produces 1200 metric tons of oxygen every day. Under normal circumstances, the medical sector requires 150 to 200 metric tons of oxygen, but due to the increase in the number of corona patients, the demand has increased to 700 metric tons per day.

Last year, when the number of corona patients increased, the demand had reached 600 metric tons. This time it has increased even more, said the Commissioner of Public Health Scheme Dr. Sudhakar Shinde said that if the number of patients increases and patients start needing oxygen, the situation could become problematic.

There are four to five major producers of oxygen in the state, while there are around 50 bottling plants. They are all running at full capacity. We need oxygen in many places like steel plants, chemical companies, forging plants. But instead of giving priority to that industries, the hospital is being supplied oxygen first. So these companies can get in trouble. As a result, the employees working in this place will also get in trouble, the ministry officials said.

According to a senior official in the ministry, if the people continue to walk around without masks and the number of patients continues to rise, it will be very difficult for the government to get oxygen. Hundreds of patients in the state need oxygen. Many patients are on ventilators. There are also patients who are not covid infected but need oxygen. Therefore, if the people do not follow discipline in such a crisis, it will not take long for the situation to get out of hand, the official said.