As cyclone roars in, focus on safety of Covid units, power and O2 supply

NEW DELHI: A central review of preparedness with states affected by the onrushing Cyclone Tauktae saw an urgent focus on ensuring power supply to hospitals, Covid care facilities, oxygen supplies and vaccine cold storage chains so that critical patients are not adversely impacted by the storm’s fury.
Home minister Amit Shah on Sunday reviewed preparedness with CMs of Maharashtra and Gujarat and the administrator of the UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and specifically raised concerns over safety of health facilities that currently house Covid patients, including those in ICU requiring critical care.
Shah also spoke to Goa CM Pramod Sawant regarding the situation in the state and promised him all central help to deal with the cyclone’s impact.
During the video conference with states/UT, Shah asked them to evacuate patients from health facilities that fall on the cyclone path, to avert any loss of life or property. For makeshift/temporary hospitals functioning close to oxygen generating plants, his advised that patients may be shifted to vacant beds in proper hospitals and ‘pucca’ facilities nearby.
Shah directed district administrations to make sure that there was power back-up at all times in hospitals, laboratories, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities. He suggested hospitals stock all essential medicines and supplies just in case the cyclone ended up disrupting vehicular movements.
The minister’s video conference, following the review by PM Narendra Modi on Saturday, assessed the likely impact on oxygen generation plants in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Shah assured help from the Centre, including deployment of central forces and NDRF teams. NDRF has deployed 79 teams so far.