Telangana airlifts 9 tankers to Odisha to source oxygen

HYDERABAD: Amid an urgent urgent requirement of oxygen, to treat Covid 19 patients across various state hospitals, the Telangana government, on Friday, airlifted nine empty liquid oxygen tankers that were flown out to Odisha, for refilling.
The defence aircraft took off from the Begumpet airport and are expected to return with oxygen supply in the next few days.

It is being said that this is probably the first time that oxygen cylinders have been transported by air. Speaking about the development, Telangana’s health minister Eatala Rajender said that generally it takes several days for the process — to send and get filled oxygen tankers — and therefore, the government chose to use use aircraft to reduce the time.
“The decision taken by the Telangana government to airlift tankers to Odisha will save three days worth of time,” Rajender said.
The empty tankers were sent to Odisha in two C-17 jets to bring back 150 metric tonnes of oxygen. They will be loaded with oxygen supplies from Angul, Rourkela Steel plant.
While some of the tankers were dispatched in the morning, a second flight with four tankers were flown out of Begumpet in the evening, said officials.
The health minister said it was on the directions of chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao, that defence aircraft were used to get oxygen supplies for the state and reiterated that the government is fully prepared and committed to attend to those affected by the cornonavirus, without worrying about finances and additional expenditures.
Sharing that liquid oxygen tanks have been set up in 22 government hospitals, the health minister assured that Telangana will ensure there is no shortage of oxygen in the coming days.
Wing Commanders Chaitanya and Nirjawan from the Indian Air Force are coordinating with the state government for this work.