Police step in after Delhi hospital runs short of oxygen

Additional commissioner of police (outer) Sudhanshu Dhama said the director of the hospital, Rajesh Dabas, told them there were 35 Covid patients on oxygen support at the hospital.

The Delhi Police on Sunday arranged for 20 oxygen cylinders and delivered them at a hospital that had run short in outer Delhi’s Nangloi. Senior officers said the “prompt move” helped “save the lives of at least 35 Covid patients admitted at the hospital”.

Prompt arrangement of oxygen cylinders by police helped save at least 35 Covid-19 patients, said senior officials. (Bloomberg representative image)

Additional commissioner of police (outer) Sudhanshu Dhama said the director of the hospital, Rajesh Dabas, told them there were 35 Covid patients on oxygen support at the hospital.

“Dabas said that the oxygen supply at the hospital is depleting and the available oxygen supply will not last more than one hour. He further stated that he has contacted all the concerned authorities but could not get any positive response as everyone reported shortage of oxygen cylinders,” said Dhama.

The additional DCP said the situation was then reported to senior officers. “We coordinated with several officials and at the same time, also directed two teams from Nihal Vihar station to rush to Mundka and Bawana to arrange for oxygen cylinders from some suppliers. It was found that in Bawana, there is a shortage of oxygen cylinders due to the pandemic. Ten cylinders were finally arranged and immediately sent to the Mansa Ram hospital. Within half an hour, 10 more cylinders could be arranged and were also supplied to the hospital,” the officer said.