O2 cylinders’ demand in Ludhiana: From 300 month ago to 6,500 now

Ludhiana: From 300 oxygen cylinders’ requirement a month ago, the surge in Covid cases has pushed the daily demand to 6,500 cylinders for all hospitals in Ludhiana. The district administration officials said things will improve if people follow guidelines.
The district administration officers said about a month ago, the demand for D-type oxygen cylinders in Ludhiana was around 300-350, but with the increase in cases, the demand has jumped to more than 6,500. They said of these cylinders, around 3,400 were being used by six major hospitals of the city (including DMCH, CMCH, Mohandai Oswal Hospital, SPS Hospital and Fortis Hospital) and the remaining by other facilities.
An administration officer said, “As of now we get 2,000 cylinders from Vardhman Special Steels Limited and about 850 from Weltech Equipment and Infrastructure Limited and we meet the remaining demand from five bottling plants, of which two have oxygen as of now. We also ensure that the major hospitals get the cylinders as per demand, which at present is around 3,400 cylinders even as they have their own system of supply through tankers. At civil hospital, of the 300-325 cylinders demand, they get 125 cylinders from in-house plant and remaining is provided by us.”
The officer, who is involved with oxygen cylinders’ management, said, “At present, we have 2,100 to 2,200 patients, including more than 1,800 Covid and 300 post-Covid patients, who need oxygen. More than 6,500 cylinders consumption is very high, but the reason is considerable rise in caseload. It has increased burden on medical facilities and staff too.”
Officials said if people continue to be careless and do not follow Covid norms, like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and respiratory hygiene, the system will be hit, though they are exploring ways to increase the oxygen supply.
“As of now Ludhiana is in a comfortable position as far as oxygen availability is concerned and we have even supplied a minimum of 4,000 cylinders to other districts, including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Sangrur. It all depends on people’s behaviour towards the pandemic,” officials said.
Deputy director, local government, Amit Bambi, who is the nodal officer for the oxygen cylinders’ arrangement, said no doubt demand has increased a lot, but with the support of the district administration and the state government and local generation, they have managed things. He said they were meeting more than 10 times demand.
Residents also said it was better to follow rules than land up in hospitals. “If a person follows Covid rules, he may help in reducing load on hospitals and breaking the chain of infection,” said Amarjeet Kaur, a city resident.
Beds statistics
Hospitals
Beds earmarked L 2
Bed occupied L 2
Beds earmarked L3
Beds occupied L3
Private hospitals
1,586
1,241
570
510
Government hospitals
330
146
16
16
L2 beds are for moderate patients
L 3 beds are for severe patients