Despite the increase load, the Government of India expressed its inability to allow Punjab’s local industry; to commercially import Liquid Medical Oxygen from Pakistan; through Wagah-Attari border being in its proximity.
Indian Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Home Minister Amit Shah; to immediately allocate 50 metric tonnes of oxygen (LMO) as well as twenty tankers; to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to the province.
The Chief Minister expressed his concerns over the imminent loss of lives due to oxygen shortage across the state; saying that Punjab was unable to increase Level 2 and Level 3 beds due to oxygen constraints.
Punjab State leader have been pushing for an oxygen corridor from Pakistan in the form of liquid medical oxygen; as new cases are coming up the surface from early April
The total caseload is growing sharply in the state of Punjab. As of now, the state has reported 424,647 cases of COVID-19, with 8,297 new infections on Friday, more than twice the number of cases reported in Pakistan.
“Despite assurance that adequate supply would be ensured to us from alternate sources, I regret to point out that this has not happened,” the release quoted Singh as saying.
However, the state is having a backlog of over 115 MT oxygen from different sources; arising concerns and ensuring safety for essential lives of the people.